Virgin Atlantic B744 at London on Mar 22nd 2017, lightning strike

Last Update: March 22, 2017 / 20:51:27 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Mar 22, 2017

Classification
Incident

Cause
Lightning strike

Airline
Virgin Atlantic

Flight number
VS-65

Departure
London Gatwick, United Kingdom

Destination
Montego Bay, Jamaica

Aircraft Registration
G-VLIP

Aircraft Type
Boeing 747-400

ICAO Type Designator
B744

A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400, registration G-VLIP performing flight VS-65 from London Gatwick,EN (UK) to Montego Bay (Jamaica), was climbing out of Gatwick's runway 26L when the crew suspected a lightning strike and stopped the climb at FL130. The aircraft dumped fuel and returned to Gatwick for a safe landing on runway 26L about one hour after departure.

The airline reported the aircraft returned to Gatwick due to a suspected lightning strike.

A replacement Boeing 747-400 registration departed Gatwick with a delay of 6 hours and is estimated to reach Montego Bay with a delay of 5:40 hours.

The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground about 7 hours after landing back.

Metars:
EGKK 221350Z 19009KT 160V220 9999 FEW015 BKN031 08/06 Q1006=
EGKK 221320Z 18008KT 9999 FEW020 BKN031CB 08/06 Q1006 RESHRA=
EGKK 221250Z 19008KT 160V220 9999 -RA FEW009 BKN035 06/05 Q1006 RESHRA=
EGKK 221220Z 17010KT 140V210 9999 4500NW SHRA BKN012CB 08/06 Q1005=
EGKK 221150Z 17010KT 140V210 8000 -RA BKN014 08/06 Q1005=
EGKK 221120Z 17010G20KT 140V210 9999 -RA FEW009 BKN019 07/06 Q1005 RERA=
EGKK 221050Z 16011KT 130V200 7000 RA BKN010 06/05 Q1004=
EGKK 221020Z 16012G25KT 130V190 8000 RA FEW008 BKN011 06/05 Q1004=
EGKK 220950Z 15012KT 120V180 7000 -RA FEW010 BKN018 06/05 Q1004=
EGKK 220920Z 16010KT 130V190 6000 -RA FEW013 BKN018 06/05 Q1004=
EGKK 220850Z 16011KT 120V190 9999 -RA FEW017 BKN020 07/05 Q1004 RERA=
EGKK 220820Z 17013G25KT 120V200 6000 RA BKN017 06/04 Q1004=
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Mar 22, 2017

Classification
Incident

Cause
Lightning strike

Airline
Virgin Atlantic

Flight number
VS-65

Departure
London Gatwick, United Kingdom

Destination
Montego Bay, Jamaica

Aircraft Registration
G-VLIP

Aircraft Type
Boeing 747-400

ICAO Type Designator
B744

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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