BOSTON, Massachusetts (NV) – A Delta Airlines flight bound for Rome, Italy, from Boston, Massachusetts, on Sunday, August 4, was struck by lightning while in mid-air, according to the airline and the Federal Aviation Administration.
The plane had to return to Boston Logan International Airport for safety reasons when the crew reported a lightning strike after takeoff, Delta and the FAA said.
The plane landed back in Boston at 7:20 p.m. without incident, Delta said.
The plane was an Airbus 330, according to the FAA.
Passenger Donna Pilat, from Nashua, New Hampshire, told ABC she heard “a little bang” while in the air.
“The plane landed very bumpily in Boston, with fire trucks all around,” she recalled. “We could smell burning rubber on the tires. They had to tow the plane to a covered parking area, so we waited for hours to get our luggage. It was a long night, but it could have been worse.”
Delta apologized to customers for the delays and said it was working to get passengers to their destinations as quickly as possible.
The FAA said it would investigate, adding that all commercial aircraft are required by law to be designed to protect against lightning strikes.
Pilat, a passenger on the flight struck by lightning, said she missed her trip to the Vatican because of the incident. She had hoped to catch a Mediterranean cruise departing Wednesday.
“I hope lightning doesn’t strike a second time!” she said. (TTHN)