An Air Canada aircraft was struck by lightning on March 3rd shortly after taking off from Vancouver International Airport.
According to the National Weather Service, most airplanes are struck by lightning at least once a year. However, such incidents are rarely captured on video.
Ethan West, an aviation enthusiast, was heading to Vancouver International Airport on March 3rd when he spotted one of his favorite aircraft, the Boeing 777-300ER. Just as he began filming the moment Air Canada’s plane took off, the Boeing 777-300ER was struck by lightning.
An Air Canada Boeing 777. (Photo: Getty Images).
A spokesperson for Air Canada confirmed to CBC News that an aircraft departing from Vancouver was indeed struck by lightning on March 3rd.
They added that the aircraft continued its 10-hour journey to Heathrow Airport in London, England, and landed safely before undergoing inspection.
Any aircraft suspected or confirmed to have been struck by lightning must undergo mandatory inspections, which can lead to flight delays.
The National Weather Service stated that jet aircraft typically try to avoid thunderstorms whenever possible, as these conditions often lead to lightning strikes: “Their presence increases the electric field around them, characteristic of thunderstorms, and facilitates discharge events in the atmosphere.”
Commercial jets are designed with various protective measures to minimize the impact of lightning strikes, such as an additional protective layer to insulate passengers and electronic equipment inside.
However, occasionally, a lightning strike can still damage the aircraft’s fuselage, as seen in the case of an American Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner that was struck by lightning in 2023.
The moment lightning struck the Air Canada aircraft departing from Vancouver: (Source: Breaking Aviation News & Videos).
