EasyJet flight U28305 was struck by lightning after taking off from Gatwick on its way to Milan. The aircraft was a A319 (G-EZDH) and departed at 14.22GMT on the 14th May. Landed safely back at Gatwick.
Posted by TheRealPyroManiac@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 20 comments
Mahrabeel@reddit
I thought aircraft were designed in such a way that these strikes were inconsequential? If so, why the need to return to Gatwick?
whiskeytown79@reddit
To give the passengers a chance to change their pants.
-malcolm-tucker@reddit
And to do ECGs and check trops.
Far-Yellow9303@reddit
They aren't wholly inconsequential but they won't bring down a plane. However, lightning is essentially an explosion of plasma and that explosion is touching the aircraft. It damages the skin around the point of entry and the point of exit. The aircraft remains flyable and the systems inside the plane will be unaffected but you'll want to get that skin checked out as soon as you can and preferably without putting any pressure differential on it.
mattrussell2319@reddit
Aren’t there varying degrees of it, though, and the pilots have some indication of its effect? I’ve been on one that was hit a few minutes after takeoff and we continued to our destination.
Far-Yellow9303@reddit
Let me get back to you on that one. I'm a helicopter pilot so what I wrote out was the answer given in my textbooks but I know a few airline pilots I can ask to see what they make of it. I can't promise a quick answer so I'm leaving this comment to find my way back when I have it.
61571@reddit
There’s a phenomenon known as positive stroke lightning which is the antimatter equivalent, a mass discharge of positrons. It tends to have much stronger effect than traditional ‘electron’ lightning but still aircraft are designed with this in mind. I studied effects of lightning on composites for my PhD.
The primary risk is the ‘sparking’ between conductors of different voltages igniting the fuel- this is reduced through bonding everything together, thus no potential difference.
Secondary risks are electromagnetic effects of the potentially massive amount of current which again is mitigated by the equipotential bonding & parallel paths. I recall an accident report where a control rod was mangled by the electromagnetic effects.
Tertiary effects are electromagnetic interference on avionics, again mitigated through equipotential bonding & electromagnetic shielding.
Overall an aluminium aircraft does act like a faraday cage however equipotential bonding needs to be adequate to prevent the above effects for other metal parts.
Composite aircraft such as the 787/A380 have a sacrificial metal layer on top of the composite material for purely lighting strike protection.
KnowledgeSafe3160@reddit
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IcyTable6584@reddit
Amazing capture!!
ReadyWriter25@reddit
I was a passenger on an Airbus crossing the North Sea at night coming back from Germany. Suddenly there was a big blue-white flash up front accompanied by a "crunch" sound like someone stamping on a big cardboard box. The buzz of conversation in the cabin instantly stopped and there was about ten sexonds of complete silence. Then the Captain announced that the plane had been struck by lightning and this was well within the capabilities of the aircraft. The flight carried on as normal and landed uneventfully at Heathrow. I'd like to know what the Captain was doing during those ten seconds.
NotANormalMf@reddit
Why am I getting such a massive sense of deja vu from this comment
adyrip1@reddit
Evaluating the size and smell of the stain in his boxers
Accomplished-One7476@reddit
shocking
CaydeTheCat@reddit
Electrifying, even.
t-poke@reddit
I see clothing shops in airport terminals and always wonder "Who's buying clothes at the airport?"
Then I see photos like this, and realize there are about 150 people who need a new pair of pants.
kj_gamer2614@reddit
The people inside the plane probably didn’t even realise really what happened, doubt it would have been terrifying for them
EraOfProsperity@reddit
And this is why you put your phone on Airplane Mode when flying.
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