British Airways B744 at Chicago on Apr 2nd 2016, lightning strike

Last Update: April 4, 2016 / 13:48:36 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of British Airways G-CIVV, Boeing 747-400 — British Airways G-CIVV, Boeing 747-400 (Photo credit: Hawkeye UK / Flickr / License: CC by-sa)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
Apr 2, 2016

Classification
Incident

Cause
Lightning strike

Airline
British Airways

Flight number
BA-295

Departure
London Heathrow, United Kingdom

Destination
Chicago O'Hare, United States

Aircraft Registration
G-CIVV

Aircraft Type
Boeing 747-400

ICAO Type Designator
B744

Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago

Airport ICAO Code
KORD

A British Airways Boeing 747-400, registration G-CIVV performing flight BA-295 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA), was on approach to Chicago when the aircraft received a lightning strike to the radome. The crew continued for a safe landing on Chicago's runway 28C.

The aircraft was unable to perform its return flight BA-294, the flight was cancelled.

The occurrence aircraft was able to depart Chicago after 33.5 hours, positioned to London and resumed service.

A passenger reported the lightning strike went largely unnoticed in the cabin. After landing the captain announced that they were approaching Chicago squeezed in between two snow fronts, the aircraft was struck by lightning which was the "thump" or "thud" sound heard in the aircraft, all instruments continued to work normally. The aircraft received damage to the radome.

Metars:
KORD 021951Z 33025G33KT 10SM -SN FEW025 BKN032 BKN095 03/M03 A2967 RMK AO2 PK WND 33034/1940 SNE02B24 SLP053 P0001 T00281033 $
KORD 021905Z 31024G31KT 9SM SCT010 BKN045 02/M02 A2964 RMK AO2 PK WND 32031/1853 SNE02 P0001 T00171022 $
KORD 021851Z 30022G38KT 1/8SM R10L/2200VP6000FT SN FZFG BKN010 OVC037 M01/M02 A2963 RMK AO2 PK WND 29044/1828 SLP041 SNE04B34 P0000 I1001 T10061022 $
KORD 021849Z 30026G38KT 1/8SM R10L/2200V3000FT SN BKN010 OVC037 M01/M02 A2964 RMK AO2 PK WND 29044/1828 SNE04B34 P0000 I1001 $
KORD 021842Z 32026G42KT 1/8SM R10L/1400V2200FT SN BKN010 OVC037 M01/M02 A2963 RMK AO2 PK WND 29044/1828 SFC VIS 1/4 PRESRR SNE04B34 P0000 I1001 T10061017 $
KORD 021835Z 33029G44KT 1/8SM R10L/1400VP6000FT SN BKN025 BKN029 OVC042 01/M02 A2962 RMK AO2 PK WND 29044/1828 SFC VIS 1/2 PRESRR SNE04B34 P0000 I1001 T00061017
KORD 021814Z 31021G36KT 10SM BKN025 BKN042 BKN060 03/M01 A2958 RMK AO2 PK WND 29036/1810 SNE04 P0000 T00281011 $
KORD 021800Z 30021G32KT 3SM R10L/2800VP6000FT -SN BKN025 BKN060 BKN090 01/M02 A2957 RMK AO2 PK WND 30032/1754 P0000 T00061022 $
KORD 021757Z 30023G46KT 1SM R10L/2400VP6000FT -SN BKN023 BKN060 BKN080 01/M02 A2957 RMK AO2 PK WND 30032/1754 P0000 T00061022 $
KORD 021754Z 30023G46KT 1/4SM R10L/2400VP6000FT +SN BKN017 BKN039 OVC060 00/M03A2957 RMK AO2 PK WND 30032/1754 P0000 T00001028 $
KORD 021751Z 31028G46KT 1/2SM R10L/2400VP6000FT SN BKN012 BKN025 OVC048 01/M02 A2957 RMK AO2 PK WND 29047/1725 SNB25 PRESRR SLP020 VC SHSN P0000 60000 T00061022 10044 21006 53026 $
KORD 021749Z 31033G46KT 2SM R10L/2800VP6000FT -SN BKN012 BKN025 BKN042 01/M02 A2957 RMK AO2 PK WND 29047/1725 SNB25 VC SHSN P0000 $
KORD 021743Z 30021G32KT 6SM R10L/2600VP6000FT -SN BR SCT014 BKN024 BKN042 01/M01 A2956 RMK AO2 PK WND 29047/1725 SNB25 VC SHSN P0000 T00111011 $
KORD 021737Z 30021G39KT 1/4SM R10L/2600V5500FT SN FG BKN012 BKN039 OVC060 00/M02 A2956 RMK AO2 PK WND 29047/1725 TWR VIS 1/2 SNB25 P0000 T00001017 $
KORD 021732Z 30028G47KT 1/2SM R10L/3000VP6000FT -SN SCT018 BKN039 OVC090 01/M02A2955 RMK AO2 PK WND 29047/1725 SFC VIS 3/4 SNB25 PRESRR P0000 T00061022 $
KORD 021651Z 30024G33KT 10SM FEW025 BKN036 OVC055 03/M03 A2952 RMK AO2 PK WND 28046/1625 SLP000 SNB28E38 P0000 T00281033 $
KORD 021634Z 30030G46KT 7SM -SN FEW025 BKN039 OVC047 02/M03 A2951 RMK AO2 PK WND 28046/1625 SNB28 P0000 T00171028
KORD 021628Z 29031G46KT 2 1/2SM HZ FEW033 BKN041 OVC055 03/M03 A2950 RMK AO2 PKWND 28046/1625 PRESRR VIS N 2 1/2SM P0000 T00281033
KORD 021551Z 28018G32KT 10SM FEW035 SCT045 OVC065 04/M03 A2948 RMK AO2 PK WND 25032/1544 SNB16E45 SLP986 P0000 T00391028
KORD 021451Z 24018G29KT 10SM FEW024 OVC032 02/M02 A2949 RMK AO2 PK WND 23033/1441 SNE40 SLP992 VIS NE 2 1/2 P0000 60000 T00171022 58015
KORD 021439Z 23013G22KT 6SM -SN BKN027 OVC032 01/M03 A2950 RMK AO2 VIS NE 2 1/2P0000 T00111028
KORD 021422Z 22009G25KT 2 1/2SM -SN BKN027 OVC034 01/M03 A2951 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 4 P0000 T00111028
KORD 021411Z 23011KT 1 1/2SM -SN OVC036 01/M02 A2952 RMK AO2 P0000 T00061022