Qantas flight returns to Sydney after lightning strike

A QANTASLINK flight has been forced back to Sydney to check for damage after it was struck by lightning.

A QANTASLINK plane has been diverted back to Sydney shortly after takeoff after it was struck by lightning.

Flight QLK2164 to Port Macquarie left Sydney Airport about 8.30am on Tuesday and was reported to have been struck by lightning about 25 minutes into the flight.

The lightning hit the nose of the Dash 8 twin-propeller aircraft, according to Nine News.

It was sent back to Sydney to be checked for damage.

The Qantas plane had to return to Sydney after takeoff. Picture: Flight Aware

In a statement, Qantas said the plane had to be checked for damage as per airline policy.

“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,” a spokesperson said.

“Port Macquarie does not have the engineering support required for this inspection so the flight returned to Sydney.

“At no point was the safety of the flight compromised.”

The plane had taken off from Sydney about an hour after its scheduled departure time due to Sydney’s wild weather.

A Qantas flight has been diverted back to Sydney Airport after being struck by lightning. #9News pic.twitter.com/DYsnfPoR8i

— Nine News Adelaide (@9NewsAdel) June 19, 2018

Passengers were able to board another flight.

It was sent back to Sydney after the lightning strike so it could be checked as a precaution, the captain told the 20 to 30 passengers on board in a recording obtained by Nine News.

“We just came back as a precaution,” the captain said.

“This weather is not normal, nothing like I’ve seen over the last few months.”