LIHU‘E — A United Airlines commercial jet was struck by lightning shortly after noon Sunday while on an inbound approach for landing at Lihu‘e Airport. “The flight landed safely without incident,” United spokesman Charles Hobart said on Tuesday. “At no
LIHU‘E — A United Airlines commercial jet was struck by lightning shortly after noon Sunday while on an inbound approach for landing at Lihu‘e Airport.
“The flight landed safely without incident,” United spokesman Charles Hobart said on Tuesday. “At no point was anyone in danger. The pilot had complete control of the aircraft at all times. Our pilots are trained to respond to those situations.”
The Boeing 757 sustained damage to the front nose panel near the plane’s landing gear, according to reports from ground personnel. The plane was subsequently taken out of service, “patched up” and flown from Lihu‘e to San Francisco on Monday for repairs. There will be no interruptions in flight services, Hobart said.
Flight 371, originating from San Francisco International Airport direct to Lihu‘e, “was nearly full” Sunday with 153 passengers and seven crew members. He said the pilots believed it was lightning that struck the plane, but an official examination and investigation had not yet been performed.
“Lightning strikes are rare, but not unheard of,” said Ian Gregor, public affairs manager for the FAA. “FAA certification regulations ensure that an airplane is able to withstand any likely lightning strike and continue a safe flight and landing. The FAA also requires airlines to have procedures in their maintenance program for inspections after such events.”
A study by Boeing estimated that the average commercial jet is struck by lightning twice per year.
Lightning was abundant around Kaua‘i on Sunday because of an intense weekend storm that had caused temporary road and bridge closures, a power outage and sewage leaks.
Lihu‘e Airport did not close. The rains caused flight delays but no cancellations, airport spokesmen said.
“When there’s convective activity around an airport, controllers issue pilots weather alerts and updates so pilots can decide whether it’s safe to land. Sometimes, however, lightning can occur without warning,” Gregor said.
