Lightning hits China Southern Airbus A321 while taxiing, 20 strike marks found
A China Southern Airlines flight was forced to abandon its departure and return to the gate at Shenzhen airport over the weekend after the Airbus A321 aircraft was struck by lightning while taxiing. Flight CZ3209, bound for the city of Wuxi in China’s eastern Jiangsu province, was waiting on the ground during a heavy thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon when the incident occurred, according to a…
On Saturday afternoon, China Southern Airlines flight CZ3209, en route to Wuxi, Jiangsu province, faced an unexpected challenge while taxiing at Shenzhen Airport. The Airbus A321 was caught in a heavy thunderstorm, and a massive bolt of lightning struck the aircraft as it moved on the ground. Despite the dramatic moment, no injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Passenger accounts described the experience as frightening, with a sudden thunderclap and a significant shaking of the plane. The pilot announced the need for an inspection, and ground maintenance staff confirmed about 20 strike marks on the aircraft's underbelly and elevators. China Southern Airlines swiftly responded to the incident, replacing the affected aircraft with another of the same model to avoid severe delays. Additional maintenance personnel inspected the electrical circuits and repaired the scorch marks.
The damaged aircraft was fully restored and returned to service the following day. Flight tracking data revealed that the original 4:40pm departure was delayed by four hours, with the replacement plane taking off at 8:40pm and landing in Wuxi at 10:49pm. China Southern Airlines emphasized that the aircraft's aluminum alloy exterior ensures passenger safety during such incidents, as the electrical current safely dissipates to the ground.
While rare, lightning strikes in commercial aviation are not uncommon, with numerous minor damage cases documented annually. A notable incident in March 2024 involved an Air Canada Boeing 777 struck by lightning shortly after take-off from Vancouver, which completed its transatlantic flight safely following routine inspections.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
