Air Canada Flight Safely Lands at London Heathrow
Air Canada Flight Safely Lands at London Heathrow: A video capturing the moment when a plane
bound from Vancouver to London was struck by lightning mid-flight has gone viral.
According to a report by Dailymail, the Air Canada Boeing 777 encountered a lightning strike shortly
after departing from Vancouver Airport.
Despite the dramatic incident, the aircraft, carrying 400 passengers, safely completed its journey and landed at London Heathrow on schedule.
The video, filmed by aviation enthusiast Ethan West, who dreams of becoming a pilot, showed the lightning bolt hitting the plane directly as it continued its descent without any noticeable impact on the flight.
While the sight may have been alarming for observers, passengers onboard likely did not perceive any effects from the lightning strike.
The Modern Aircraft
Modern aircraft, like the one involved, are equipped with materials designed to conduct electricity around the aircraft, ensuring the safety of those inside.
Although passengers might see a flash of lightning or hear thunder, they would not be in danger or feel directly affected by the strike.
Upon arrival at London Heathrow, Air Canada confirmed that the aircraft underwent inspection to ensure the flight’s safety.
According to the National Weather Service, lightning strikes on planes occur once or twice a year on average.
Commercial passenger planes typically travel at around 500 mph, while lightning bolts travel at nearly 700 million mph.
The Temprature
Most lightning strikes occur in near-freezing temperatures at high altitudes or during turbulent conditions, with frequency varying by geographical location.
Between March and July, over half of lightning strikes on aircraft occur, often during ascent or descent through clouds.
With temperatures reaching nearly 30,000°C, lightning is incredibly hot—three times hotter than the sun’s surface.
Although rare, there have been nine recorded plane crashes attributed to lightning, primarily involving commercial airliners and two military planes.
Among these incidents, the most devastating was the 1971 LANSA Flight 508, resulting in the loss of 91 out of 92 passengers and crew.