Lightning strike diverts Knock flight

Lightning strike diverts Knock flight


Ciara Galvin

A FLIGHT carrying 189 passengers from Milan Bergamo to Ireland West Airport Knock was forced to divert to Dublin airport on Sunday afternoon, after lighting struck the Ryanair Boeing 737-800 airplane.
The full service flight FR4997 to Knock was diverted to Dublin airport to be inspected by Ryanair engineers after it suffered a lightning strike on its approach to Knock just before midday.
The aircraft landed normally at Dublin, and after a routine post-lightning strike inspection, the plane was cleared to return to service, departing for Knock after an hour on the ground in Dublin.
At the time of the lightning strike there was heavy rain and thunderstorms in the area. The pilot informed the air traffic controllers that they were unable to continue with the approach and performed a ‘go-round’. It was confirmed by crew that the decision to abort the landing was because the aircraft had been hit by lightning.
The crew was advised not to attempt a second approach but to divert to Dublin, where the aircraft was inspected. No evidence of damage was found and it resumed its journey to Knock.

Rare
According to a report on lightning strikes on airplanes, published by Lufthansa Technik AG, manufacturer and provider of maintenance for aircraft, lightning strikes on aircrafts are ‘very rare in modern air travel’.
When an airplane is hit by lightning the plane acts like a lightning rod as the metal structure provides the lowest resistance for electrical discharge before reaching the ground.  
Like the body of a car, the aluminium, when struck by lightning, passes the electric energy around the interior, keeping the passengers safe.
Static dischargers on the wings’ edge acts as a frequent exit point for lightning strikes.
The flight finally landed in Knock at 3.05pm, more than three hours later than scheduled. Ryanair apologised to customers for the delay which they say was unavoidable.