SOMEHOW, WE ARE NOT COMFORTED
Experts estimate each commercial airliner is struck by lightning once or twice a year. While it can sometimes leave a burn mark, it is unusual for lightning to punch through the skin of a modern jet.
(Thanks to DavCat)
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June 30, 2008
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Pity they didn't mention his brother Jakov.
Posted by: Meanie the Blue | June 30, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Oddly enough, it tends to happen right after the pilot assures the passengers they're on schedule for an on-time arrival...
Posted by: KJP | June 30, 2008 at 02:14 PM
First! to retract post and place it on the correct thread.
Sorry, must have been the lightning.
Posted by: Meanie the Blue | June 30, 2008 at 02:15 PM
But did you catch the last sentence of the article?
"In some cases, experts say, the aircraft itself can trigger a lightning discharge."
Yipes.
Posted by: cspencef | June 30, 2008 at 02:16 PM
"Lightning blasts a hole in airliner as bad luck strikes again"
Oh.... I must have misheard those flight attendants. I misunderstood when they were talking about the "blasthole" in first class drinking to much.
Posted by: Steve (The 24 Guy) | June 30, 2008 at 02:24 PM
Has my hair has just combusted!
Posted by: lil rascal | June 30, 2008 at 02:51 PM
So after the lightning strike it was a big, long, hard tube with a hole in the front? Did Semen Sementov go leaping out the front?
Posted by: JayP | June 30, 2008 at 03:04 PM
I don't know why, but I just can't make myself look out the window during a storm.
Posted by: Cat R | June 30, 2008 at 03:37 PM
Me either, Cat. Gotta be careful with those cracks.
Posted by: Siouxie | June 30, 2008 at 04:08 PM
I wonder how long it takes to thoroughly steam-clean the upholstery of an entire aircraft.
Posted by: Hammond Rye | June 30, 2008 at 04:14 PM
Is this what happened to the passengers of "Lost"?
Posted by: eilbeback | June 30, 2008 at 04:26 PM
Was in a prop plane struck by lightening, when I was a child.
Posted by: estrogen centrale | June 30, 2008 at 05:20 PM
I know... I know... 'splains a lot...
Posted by: estrogen centrale | June 30, 2008 at 05:23 PM
ec,
That which does not kill us...
gives us good stories for the blog later in life.
Posted by: Nietzsche | June 30, 2008 at 05:41 PM
Insert Xanax commercial here...they hope to triple their sales on "fright flights."
Posted by: sweetpea | June 30, 2008 at 06:35 PM
Dave, you can take comfort in the fact that you fly out of Miami and have much worse things to worry about.
Posted by: Margaritaville | June 30, 2008 at 07:17 PM
In a related story, USAir announced that each passenger will be assessed a $25 "electricity fee" for each lightning strike.
Posted by: Layzeeboy | July 01, 2008 at 07:50 AM