Photo: Getty ImagesA passenger on a plane struck by lightning has described the moment the bolt hit one of the engines as being like a car driving into a power pole. "It was that loud - a real smash ... just this huge bang and lightning flicked past the cabin," Don Martin told the Herald. Air NZ flight 615 was en route from Auckland to Queenstown this morning when the lightning struck during take-off about 9.30am. After the bolt struck, Martin noticed a dent on top of the engine cover and said he didn't know if it was already there but noted: "The next plane didn't have one." He thought the pilot might turn back but there were no other strikes and passengers remained calm thanks to a reassuring crew.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 08, 2020 03:33 UTC