A student from Vancouver recorded a jaw-dropping moment when lightning struck an airplane in Canadian airspace, which triggered electrifying conversations worldwide.Ethan West managed to film the remarkable event at Vancouver International Airport. Aviation enthusiasts and experts alike are calling it a rare catch, acknowledging the rarity of such footage.The aircraft in question was an Air Canada Boeing 777-333 en route from Vancouver to London on March 4. The lightning strike, which was caught on camera, left many viewers awestruck.Despite the dramatic nature of the event, the aircraft continued its journey unperturbed. This resilience might surprise some, but aviation agencies and experts ensure that planes are meticulously designed to withstand lightning strikes.Rare catch ! Aircraft struck by lightning during thunderstorm at Vancouver International Airport (YVR).🎥alianii.l#aircraft #aviation pic.twitter.com/aF0oDM802s— FL360aero (@fl360aero) March 5, 2024Finnair explains the Science According to Finnair, lightning typically strikes the front side of the planes cockpit, often hitting the edge of the cockpit window. Fortunately, the aircrafts aluminum fuselage effectively conducts electricity, ensuring that the lightning discharge poses no threat to passengers or crew inside the aircraft.As per Finnairs explanation, the discharge travels along the outer surface of the aircraft, exiting back into the atmosphere from various points such as the wing tips, control surfaces, or the tail.Reassuringly, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that lightning strikes havent caused a commercial aviation crash in many years.
