Lightning Holes Denver-Bound Passenger Jet - Stays on Schedule 7 Hours

Background

"It's estimated that lightning strikes each plane in the U.S. commercial fleet about once a year without any serious consequences, according to Lightning Technologies Inc., a Massachusetts company that designs lightning protection for civilian and military aircraft."

"Lightning may have been a factor in Monday's crash of a Boeing 737-700 jet on the island of San Andres, Colombia, has likely alarmed many air travelers. One passenger was killed after the plane broke apart while trying to land in bad weather. The pilot reported a lightning strike, El Tiempo newspaper said." - CNN, 17 AUG 2010

Current Event

DENVER – Passengers aboard a trans-Atlantic flight to Denver Tuesday night had a jolt of excitement. ... DIA officials said the damaged plane remains at the airport for repair. A replacement aircraft is expected to arrive Wednesday evening.

 A spokesperson for Icelandair said, "The aircraft handling characteristics and notification systems were unaffected and the flight continued." The airline said lightning strikes are common and the pilots of Flight 671 followed protocol.
9NEWS aviation expert Greg Feith says the flight should not have continued on to Denver. 

"They should have turned around. It's a prudent thing to turn around, because you don't know what the damage is," Feith said. He says planes are only struck between one and five times per year. But, Feith adds this incident could have been much worse.   

Submarines are always silent and strange.