Delta A321 at Atlanta on Jan 21st 2017, lightning strike

Last Update: January 25, 2017 / 19:54:28 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jan 21, 2017

Classification
Incident

Cause
Lightning strike

Airline
Delta Airlines

Flight number
DL-1201

Departure
Boston, United States

Destination
Atlanta, United States

Aircraft Registration
N309DN

Aircraft Type
Airbus A321

ICAO Type Designator
A321

A Delta Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N309DN performing flight DL-1201 from Boston,MA to Atlanta,GA (USA), was descending through about 15,000 feet when the aircraft received a lightning strike into its nose cone. The crew continued for a safe landing in Atlanta about 30 minutes later.

A passenger reported that the captain had announced prior to departure they were flying a brand new A321 to Atlanta. During the descent towards Atlanta there was a bright flash associated with a sudden loud "crack" sound followed by the smell of smoke, the smell persisted for about 10 minutes prompting many passengers to press the call bells. The flight attendants announced the captain had told them the aircraft was struck by lightning. After landing the captain announced that they had been hit by lightning on the nose. In a talk with a passenger the captain stated the lightning struck just ahead of the windshield into the nose cone, it was unbelievably bright and worse than a laser. When the passenger disembarked he noticed a large black streak, estimated about 4-5 feet long, on the nose of the aircraft.

The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Atlanta about 56 hours after landing.

Metars:
KATL 211609Z 04015KT 1 1/4SM VCTS +RA BR SCT006 BKN028CB OVC050 16/15 A2975 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 2 LTG DSNT N AND NE CB ALQDS MOV NE P0019 T01560150=
KATL 211552Z 04012G19KT 1 1/4SM VCTS +RA BR SCT006 OVC012CB 16/15 A2977 RMK AO2 WSHFT 1510 SFC VIS 2 1/2 LTG DSNT ALQDS TSE18 SLP079 CB ALQDS MOV NE P0071 T01560150=
KATL 211542Z 05009KT 1 1/4SM VCTS +RA BR SCT008 OVC012CB 16/16 A2978 RMK AO2 WSHFT 1510 SFC VIS 2 LTG DSNT NE-SE TSE18 CB S MOV NE P0063 T01560156=
KATL 211533Z 02013KT 1/4SM R09R/4000VP6000FT VCTS +RA BR SCT008 BKN012CB OVC019 16/15 A2976 RMK AO2 WSHFT 1510 SFC VIS 1 1/4 LTG DSNT ALQDS TSE18 OCNL LTGICCG ALQDS CB S MOV NE P0053 T01560150=
KATL 211525Z 35011KT 1 3/4SM R09R/5000VP6000FT VCTS +RA BR SCT010 BKN017CB OVC029 15/14 A2978 RMK AO2 WSHFT 1510 TWR VIS 3 LTG DSNT ALQDS TSE18 OCNL LTGICCG ALQDS CB S MOV NE P0030 T01500144=
KATL 211522Z 34014KT 2SM R09R/5500VP6000FT VCTS +RA BR SCT010 BKN017CB OVC029 15/14 A2977 RMK AO2 TWR VIS 3 LTG DSNT ALQDS TSE18 OCNL LTGICCG ALQDS CB S MOV NE P0023 T01500144=
KATL 211506Z 04010KT 2SM TSRA BR FEW005 BKN014CB OVC025 16/14 A2978 RMK AO2 TWR VIS 3 LTG DSNT ALQDS OCNL LTGICCG S CB S MOV NE P0011 T01560144=
KATL 211459Z AUTO 03010KT 2SM +RA BR FEW005 BKN014CB OVC025 16/14 A2977 RMK AO2 TWR VIS 3 LTG DSNT ALQDS OCNL LTGICCG S CB S MOV NE P0008 T01560144 TSNO=
KATL 211456Z 04009KT 2SM +TSRA BR FEW005 SCT015 OVC031 16/14 A2977 RMK AO2 TWR VIS 3 PRESFR OCNL LTGICCG S CB S MOV NE P0006 T01560144=
KATL 211452Z 03006KT 1 1/2SM +TSRA BR SCT004 BKN026CB BKN033 16/14 A2978 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 1 3/4 SLP082 OCNL LTGICCG S TS SW MOV NE P0064 60118 T01560144 58003=
KATL 211352Z 33004G20KT 1 1/2SM R09R/6000VP6000FT +TSRA BR FEW003 BKN015CB OVC021 14/13 A2981 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 3 TSB02 SLP091 OCNL LTGCG E FRQ LTGIC OHD-ALQDS TS OHD-ALQDS MOV NE P0054 T01440128=
KATL 211346Z 34013G20KT 1/4SM R09R/5000VP6000FT +TSRA BR SCT003 OVC012CB 16/16 A2981 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 1 TSB02 OCNL LTGCG E FRQ LTGIC OHD-ALQDS TS OHD-ALQDS MOV NE TWRINC P0046=
KATL 211303Z 09006KT 1/4SM R09R/P6000FT TSRA BR OVC003CB 17/17 A2981 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 1 1/2 TSB02 OCNL LTGICCG SW TS SW MOV NE P0003 T01720172=
KATL 211252Z 13004KT 1/4SM R09R/P6000FT -RA BR OVC003 17/17 A2982 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 1 1/2 RAB50 SLP092 OCNL LTG DSNT S-W CB DSNT S-W P0000 T01720172=
KATL 211152Z 11003KT 1/4SM R09R/5500VP6000FT BR BKN004 OVC008 17/17 A2979 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 1 1/4 SLP083 CIG 002V006 TWRINC 60000 T01720172 10172 20167 56024=
KATL 211052Z 08005KT 1/4SM R09R/2800V4000FT BR OVC003 17/17 A2980 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 1 SLP085 CIG 002V004 TWRINC T01720167=