Qantas flight turns back to Sydney after lightning strike
A QANTAS flight from Sydney to Port Macquarie has been forced to turn around after being struck by lightning.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A SUSPECTED lightning strike has forced a Qantas plane to return to Sydney Airport shortly after takeoff this morning.
The regional flight, bound for Port Macquarie, was diverted back to Sydney Airport to check suspected damage.
A Qantas spokesman said the safety of the flight was not compromised.
“Port Macquarie does not have the engineering support required for this inspection so the flight returned to Sydney,” the spokesman said.
“Aircraft are designed to withstand and fly safely when struck by lightning but it is policy that they get inspected at their arrival port after a strike.
Peter Gibson from Civil Aviation Safety Authority said these types of strikes are not uncommon.
“They’re designed for the electrical current to flow through the shell of the aircraft and often passengers on board may not even feel it.”
Sydney Airport spokesman confirmed no emergency services were required when the aircraft landed.
Passengers were transferred onto another flight.