British Airways A320 at Gibraltar on Dec 2nd 2019, lightning strike

Last Update: December 3, 2019 / 22:15:06 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of British Airways G-EUUH, Airbus A320 — British Airways G-EUUH, Airbus A320 (Photo credit: sloppyperfectionist / Flickr / License: CC by-sa)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
Dec 2, 2019

Classification
Incident

Cause
Lightning strike

Airline
British Airways

Flight number
BA-490

Departure
London Heathrow, United Kingdom

Destination
Gibraltar, Gibraltar

Aircraft Registration
G-EUUH

Aircraft Type
Airbus A320

ICAO Type Designator
A320

Airport
Gibraltar Airport, Gibraltar

Airport ICAO Code
LXGB

A British Airways Airbus A320-200, registration G-EUUH performing flight BA-490 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Gibraltar (Gibraltar), was descending towards Gibraltar, when the aircraft entered a hold due to weather conditions at the destination. After about 10 minutes the aircraft continued the approach and was on base for runway 09 descending through about 1000 feet when the aircraft entered turbulence and received a lightning strike. The crew initiated a go around, climbed the aircraft to FL160 and diverted to Malaga,SP (Spain) where the aircraft landed safely about 35 minutes after the go around.

The passengers were bussed to Gibraltar.

The aircraft remained on the ground in Malaga for about 18 hours, then departed for the return flight BA-491D operating from Malaga directly to London Heathrow.

Metars:
LXGB 021850Z 09018KT 9999 RA FEW012 FEW025CB SCT035 BKN050 15/13 Q1010 RETS=
LXGB 021750Z 08010KT 9999 7000NE -RA FEW012 BKN023 FEW025CB BKN050 13/12 Q1009 RETS=
LXGB 021722Z 06006G18KT 9999 4000NE RA FEW015 FEW025CB BKN046 OVC110 13/11 Q1009 RETS GRN TEMPO 3500 +TSRA SCT020=
LXGB 021658Z 06005KT 6000 4000NE -TSRA FEW013 FEW029CB BKN050 BKN100 12/11 Q1009 RERA TEMPO 8000 RMK GRN TEMPO BLU=
LXGB 021650Z 05003KT 6000 3500NE +TSRA FEW016CB SCT020 BKN028 13/12 Q1009 TEMPO 8000 -RA SCT025=
LXGB 021633Z 05006KT 2500 +TSRA FEW012 BKN020 FEW025CB BKN047 12/11 Q1009 TEMPO 6000 RA SCT020 RMK YLO1 TEMPO WHT=
LXGB 021627Z 04006KT 5000 4000E +TSRA FEW012 BKN020 FEW025CB BKN050 12/11 Q1009 TEMPO 6000 RA SCT025=
LXGB 021550Z 02004KT 5000 4000E TSRA SCT027 FEW033CB BKN046 OVC150 12/11 Q1009 TEMPO 3500 +TSRA SCT020=
LXGB 021520Z 35002KT 4000 TSRA FEW011 FEW020CB SCT025 BKN039 12/11 Q1009 TEMPO 8000 -RA SCT020=
LXGB 021450Z 20002KT 4000 +TSRA FEW011 FEW020CB BKN029 OVC050 12/11 Q1009 TEMPO 6000 RA SCT020 RMK GRN TEMPO WHT=
LXGB 021441Z 24002KT 4000 +TSRA FEW011 FEW020CB BKN029 OVC060 12/10 Q1009 TEMPO 7000 -RA SCT020=
LXGB 021422Z 05009KT 4000 +RA FEW020CB BKN039 OVC060 12/11 Q1009 RETS TEMPO 6000 -TSRA SCT020 RMK GRN TEMPO WHT=
LXGB 021411Z 06012G22KT 3500 +RA FEW011 FEW020CB OVC043 12/11 Q1009 TEMPO 8000 -TSRA SCT024=
LXGB 021350Z 06013KT 8000 4000E TSRA FEW005 FEW020CB BKN044 OVC100 13/12 Q1009 TEMPO -RA RMK GRN TEMPO BLU=