What if an airplane gets hit by lightning?

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Paul McDonald

Oh, it's probably happened... but commercial airlines fly around 30,000 feet. Way, way, way above lightning. It's only an issue during takeoff and landing, and they don't do takeoff and landing if lighting is a threat.

Lightning storms look really pretty to fly over.

ed201283

Airplanes get hit by lightning all the time. In modern times they are designed for it. No big deal.

PollyPocket

Nothing. Planes are designed to handle this.

EDIT

Lightning does hit airplanes and when it does it can damage the electronic equipment needed to fly the plane. Lightning research done during the 1980s by NASA had an F-106B jet fly into1,400 thunderstorms and lightning hit it over 700 times. The lightning did not damage the airplane but scientists found out that it could damage electronic systems on the plane. This led to requirements that all aircraft electrical and electronic systems have built-in lightning protection.

Pat R

Here is a link to a site asking a pilot questions about flying.

its very good,you will never be scared of flying again.

annabel m

nothing. Happens all the time. Other than taking the elevator, flying is the safest form of transportation. The odds of being involved in an accident are even less than winning the lottery. Have a nice flight!

weezer

do not worry. they do weather checks. have a safe flight

freelylucid

I would be afraid also. What you should think about is, did you ever hear about a airplane crash cause by being hit by lightening? If not, then I would think it is pretty safe.

buzybee

IF a plane is hit most can handle it but the weather is watched 24/7 so you won't be flying into any lightning. Relax! If the crew aren't panicing then you have no need to.

soccerknocker199

it has lightining rods that will channel the energy off of the airplane thre the wings and it is most likly not to damage the aircraft the lights may flicker but that is about it.

jim G

Planes get hit by lightning all the time.
Although this can affect the plane they are designed to take it.
The body of the aircraft acts as a Faraday cage, this means that the electricity will pass around the metal cage and not in to it.
You really shouldn't worry, flying is still the safest form of travel statistically.

Palmisan

Hey you need not to be worry about all these stuffs.....the way technology has taken the shape.....all the modern planes are designed to combat these kind of hiccups....

so just take a chill pill and enjoy...

jninjacash31

Being scared is a natural thing. I've flown many times and each time I still get a little bit of anxiety. It is safer than driving, though.

Planes do get struck by lightning, but as others have said, they are designed to take it.

Relax, and if you are over 21, have a drink or two to help you relax on the flight.

yader s

they forcast the weather and if they see storms of any type evan forming they would not do the flight but if it some how got hit by it i think it woulod travel around it and not crash i dont know i dont think thats ever happened

Xxâ™ªAlyssa~Asylumâ™ªxX

well it is a horrible Storm like unable even to See whats in front of u and u don't no if anything is coming at u then they might hold The light till th Storm calms down .. but a plane is designed to handle being struck by lighting also statistically speaking flying is the safest way to travel

Unknown Artist~

i'm 13 but through out my life i've flown 4 times
twice during a storm
i was scared this was gonna happen but it didn't
if there is a storm the plane wil land at the nearest possible airport and wait until it clears up

CUthere

Nah, not crash. Well in my case it didn't crash. We were all sleeping going from Philly to NY and got struck by lightning. The plane dropped a few hundred feet and some of us that didn't have our belts on went flying into the air. It sounded like the plane was going to rip in half. We all looked around to make sure everyone was OK and then went right back to sleep.

AMERICA!

nothing at all. I once flew threw a storm(pretty scary) nothing happened. Who says ther will be rain. freaking out for no reason maybe?

Link , Padawan of Yoda

If my GCSE knowledge of physics is correct then a plane is not grounded and should never actually be hit by a "Full Strength" bolt of lightning, because the charge will want to find the path of least resistance to the ground not to a dead end.

Hank Ferris

Cherry hangglider

Orlando Bloom fan

I dunno but it's likely to go " frrrrrrrrzzzzzzz".

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