Lightning can strike an airplane in mid-flight because airplanes sometimes fly through areas of high electrical activity, where electrical charges can discharge onto the aircraft due to its relative conductivity. However, modern airplanes are designed to withstand such electrical discharges.
In flight, the airplane becomes a prime target for lightning as it significantly disrupts the electric field of the air around it. By passing through electrically charged air, its metallic fuselage, which is highly conductive, naturally concentrates electric charges, thus favoring an artificial lightning strike. Furthermore, when it traverses storm clouds, the airplane accumulates electric charges on its surface, which further increases this attraction phenomenon. This accumulation of charges attracts lightning like a magnet attracts metal, making it even more exposed, even though pilots often try to avoid turbulent areas. Nonetheless, this phenomenon remains common and entirely normal, especially when weather conditions are poor.
Planes flying through areas of thunderstorms or strong turbulence are clearly at a higher risk of being struck by lightning. Why? Because a thunderstorm is somewhat like a large electrically charged battery: the differences in charge between clouds or between clouds and the ground easily generate lightning. And the closer the plane is to or directly inside large cumulonimbus clouds or areas with a lot of ice crystals or humidity, the more its presence disrupts the electrical balance. These disturbances thus favor discharges. Flight altitude also plays a role: planes often flying at high altitudes pass through more stormy regions, becoming a temporary target and naturally attracting lightning.
When lightning strikes an aircraft, the current usually flows along the outer surface of the fuselage due to what is known as the "Faraday cage effect." It's quite impressive but often without direct consequences for the passengers. However, certain sensitive components like communication antennas or electronic sensors can be damaged. Lightning can also leave small impact marks, like superficial burns on the fuselage, especially at the tips of the wings or the tail where the lightning enters and exits the aircraft. Pilots may sometimes see their instruments flicker or shut off for a moment, but generally, everything returns to normal quickly. After being struck by lightning, the aircraft will still be inspected upon landing to ensure that nothing important has been damaged.
Modern aircraft primarily utilize the principle of the Faraday cage, a metallic envelope that allows the electric current from a lightning strike to flow around the cabin without penetrating inside. The fuselage, often made of aluminum or composite materials reinforced with thin layers of conductive metals, thus guides the lightning safely around the aircraft. Static dischargers can also be found at the tips of the wings or tail: these small pointed antennas dissipate accumulated electrical charges, limiting the occurrence of lightning strikes. Finally, essential electronic systems and fuel tanks are protected by specific insulation or additional shielding to prevent any damage in the event of a direct impact.
In May 2016, a Boeing 737 from Icelandair was struck by lightning just after taking off from Keflavik Airport. The impact created a large hole in the nose of the aircraft, forcing the pilots to quickly return to the ground. Another impressive example: in 2019, an Airbus A380 from Emirates Airlines, flying from Dubai to Auckland, was hit in the midst of a storm, with all passengers on board. The plane continued its flight without major damage, demonstrating the effectiveness of integrated shielding. Then, a more famous case, the American presidential Boeing 747 (Air Force One) is regularly struck by lightning: however, thanks to its special conductive metal shielding, the lightning glides along the fuselage and continues directly without serious damage. These stories show that even well-protected, airplanes are not immune to lightning strikes in midair.
The aluminum fuselage of an airplane acts like a 'Faraday cage,' directing electrical current around the aircraft and thereby protecting passengers and internal systems.
Despite the thousands of volts released by a lightning strike, modern devices rarely suffer significant damage thanks to the strict standards established by aviation authorities to withstand these phenomena.
Airplanes avoid cumulonimbus clouds, those large storm clouds that are extremely charged with electricity, thanks to advanced weather radars that help pilots navigate around risky areas.
During the design of an aircraft, engineers conduct laboratory tests by recreating artificial lightning strikes to validate the robustness of the materials and the safety of the design.
Yes, weather conditions such as cumulonimbus clouds, thunderstorms, turbulence, and storm fronts significantly increase the risk of lightning strikes. However, airplanes generally follow routes that avoid these dangerous areas.
When an airplane is struck by lightning, passengers may see a brief flash of light and hear a muffled sound, which is normal. This phenomenon is caused by the electric current quickly flowing through the fuselage, but it is safe due to the protective devices present in the aircraft.
According to statistics, a commercial airplane is struck by lightning on average about once a year. However, in the vast majority of cases, these incidents cause no significant damage or danger to the passengers on board.
No, thanks to strict safety standards and the specific design of modern aircraft, lightning generally does not affect passenger safety. Airplanes are designed to conduct electricity through the fuselage and dissipate it safely.
Although rare, if lightning causes superficial damage (such as a minor impact on an external part), pilots follow specific protocols to assess the condition of the aircraft. After landing, a thorough inspection is carried out by the maintenance teams before any new flight.
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