What Happens If a Plane Gets Struck by Lightning?
Spoiler: It’s Built to Survive It and Probably Already Has
You're flying through a cloud, minding your own business, when BOOM! A flash of light outside your window.
You just saw lightning strike the plane. Should you panic?
Short answer: Nope.
In fact, every commercial aircraft is designed to be hit by lightning and it happens more often than you think.
Let’s clear the air on what really happens when a plane gets zapped by the sky.
First of All: Yes, It Happens A Lot
Lightning strikes commercial aircraft about once every 1,000 flight hours, which means:
Each plane is struck about once or twice a year
Pilots barely flinch
Passengers often don’t even realize it happened
So What Happens When Lightning Strikes a Plane?
When lightning hits a plane, it typically:
Strikes the nose or wingtip, where metal meets atmosphere
Travels along the outside of the fuselage
Exits at another point often the tail
This process is called “skin effect,” where electricity flows over the aircraft’s metallic exterior without penetrating the inside.
You might hear a bang or see a flash, but inside the cabin?
Everything stays calm, pressurized, and completely safe.
Planes Are Basically Flying Faraday Cages
Thanks to clever engineering, modern aircraft act like giant Faraday cages structures that safely conduct electricity around passengers and electronics.
The metal skin channels the current away from sensitive systems
Electrical and fuel systems are shielded or redundantly protected
Modern avionics are lightning-tested and certified to handle strikes
Do Pilots Do Anything When It Happens?
Typically, yes, but it’s routine:
Pilots report the strike to air traffic control
They may divert to check for damage if necessary
After landing, maintenance crews inspect the aircraft before the next flight
Even though damage is rare, airlines don’t take any chances.
Can Lightning Bring Down a Plane?
Extremely unlikely.
There hasn’t been a lightning-related commercial airline crash in the U.S. since 1967.
Modern aircraft are built with layers of protection to make sure lightning is a shock, but not a threat.