Struck by Lightning, Aircraft Forced to Land

A chartered plane carrying 400 passengers was struck by lightning shortly after takeoff and was forced to land back at Arlanda Airport in Stockholm, Sweden, on Tuesday (17/08/2010).

"All passengers are now out of the plane and no one was injured," said Magdalena Ohrn of Ving aircraft leasing company.

The plane, owned by Airbus 330-300 Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia, was a flight to Antalya in Turkey and carrying 405 passengers and 18 crew.

The aircraft was struck by lightning a few minutes after takeoff, but managed to land without a problem, Torben Anderson said of Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia.

The engineers will decide whether the aircraft can fly again or not after the examination. Ohrn hope that all passengers can resume flight.