On September 24, 2024, a Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Airbus A350 was struck by lightning at an altitude of 35.000 feet on a flight from Copenhagen to Shanghai. Despite the dramatic event, which was accompanied by a loud bang and a bright flash, the incident remained largely harmless for the passengers and crew.
However, the plane returned to Copenhagen as a precaution, where it landed safely. The incident highlights the safety of modern aircraft and the challenges pilots face in such situations.
A lightning strike at 35.000 feet: What happened on board?
Flight SK997 departed Copenhagen Airport on September 24 at 23:48 local time, bound for Shanghai. During the climb, the aircraft passed through a weather front when lightning suddenly struck the plane. A passenger described the moment as extremely loud, accompanied by a bright light visible on the windows. About ten minutes after the impact, the captain informed the passengers that the plane had been struck by lightning, but that all systems were functioning normally.
Despite the apparently stable situation, the flight crew decided to fly the aircraft back to Copenhagen for a thorough inspection. This is standard aviation procedure as lightning strikes, although rarely dangerous, have the potential to cause damage that is not immediately apparent. The Airbus A350 landed safely in Copenhagen at 01:22 local time, where it was met on the runway by emergency services. Landing overweight - that is, with a higher than normal landing weight limit - is particularly likely to cause damage to the aircraft. Therefore, the aircraft was intensively inspected for damage to the landing gear, wings and other components.
Lightning strikes in aviation: An everyday risk?
Lightning strikes on aircraft are spectacular, but not uncommon. It is estimated that every commercial aircraft is struck by lightning about once a year. However, modern aircraft such as the Airbus A350 are designed to withstand these forces. The metal fuselage of an aircraft acts as a Faraday cage, conducting electrical charges around the aircraft, protecting passengers and electronics inside. In addition, all cables and electronic systems are insulated against such external influences.
Lightning usually enters the front part of the aircraft, such as the nose or wingtips, and exits the aircraft at the tail. When properly functioning and designed, this causes only minimal damage, such as small burn marks on the outer shell, which can usually be easily repaired. However, in rare cases, an aircraft's electronics can be disrupted or damaged, which is why pilots always act with caution when lightning strikes and have the aircraft inspected.
An SAS Airbus A350 in focus
The aircraft affected was an Airbus A350-900, one of the most modern long-haul aircraft in Scandinavian Airlines' fleet. With a capacity of up to 300 passengers and a range of around 15.000 kilometers, the A350-900 is particularly suitable for intercontinental flights such as the Copenhagen-Shanghai route. The aircraft, registered SE-RSD, was delivered to SAS in June 2020 and had completed around 11.335 flight hours by the time of the incident. Although the lightning strike did not cause any immediately visible damage, the aircraft remained on the ground for 48 hours after landing to be thoroughly examined for structural damage.
Lightning strikes are rarely dangerous, but there are exceptions. In 1963, for example, a Pan Am Boeing 707 was struck by lightning, causing an explosion when the lightning ignited in the fuel tanks. Since then, aviation safety standards have been significantly improved to prevent such accidents. In particular, the design of modern aircraft such as the Airbus A350 is designed to withstand lightning strikes without major consequences.
The lightning strike on SAS flight SK997 shows how safe modern aviation is despite unpredictable natural events such as lightning. Thanks to modern aircraft designs, well-trained pilots and strict safety protocols, passengers and crew were able to survive the incident without further problems. The decision to return the aircraft to Copenhagen was a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of everyone on board. Even though the flight itself was postponed and the return flight was cancelled, the incident shows the importance of safety precautions in aviation.
and 