Lightning strikes a passenger plane shortly after takeoff in Vancouver

Lightning strikes a passenger plane shortly after takeoff in Vancouver

Updated

A student pilot has captured the shocking moment a passenger plane was struck by lightning shortly after takeoff at Washington International Airport. Vancouver.

Ethan West19 years old, he says CTV News which was near the airport recording the take-off of a Boeing 777-300ER with his cell phone Monday evening when he encountered the impact. «It’s one of my favorite airplanes. It makes a really loud noise, so I was trying to catch the momentum of the takeoff,» she explained.

The young man said he then checked the flight tracker and was able to confirm that the plane had continued its route towards London Heathrow Airport. “The plane continued to climb, I guess they concluded it was fit to fly,” she said.

West also shared his experience with News about the city of Vacouver. The young man admitted that his initial reaction was one of shock and that numerous doubts arose: «I was wondering if it was necessary to take a detour and if the passengers knew what was happening«.

Canadian media also collect information from the US National Weather Service which assures that passenger planes usually «they are struck by lightning on average once or twice a year«.

“They are designed and equipped to receive lightning and conduct currents,” the agency explains.