SAS Scandinavian A350 Struck by Lightning, Safely Returns
An SAS Scandinavian Airlines Airbus A350-900 experienced a lightning strike shortly after departing from Copenhagen Airport on September 24, 2024. The aircraft was en route to Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) when it was forced to return to Copenhagen due to the incident.
Flight SK997, a regular scheduled service from Copenhagen (CPH) to Shanghai, took off at 23:48 during a thunderstorm in the vicinity of the airport. After climbing to an initial cruising altitude of 35,000 feet (10,200 meters), the aircraft encountered a lightning strike approximately 260 miles (416 km) southeast of Copenhagen, near the Polish city of Poznan.
The flight crew promptly contacted air traffic control, informing them of the lightning strike and their intention to return to Copenhagen for a precautionary landing. Air traffic controllers instructed the crew to turn northward and proceed back to the airport. The Airbus A350 touched down safely at 01:14, approximately 90 minutes after departure.
According to a passenger onboard SK997, there was a loud bang and a bright flash on the left side of the aircraft around 23:55 during the climb. The captain announced shortly after that the aircraft had been struck by lightning but assured passengers that all systems were functioning normally. Ten minutes later, the captain informed the passengers that more information would be provided shortly.
At approximately 00:28, while still in Polish airspace, the aircraft entered a steep left turn, prompting an announcement about the decision to return to Copenhagen for inspection. Upon landing, the aircraft faced an overweight landing due to the need for immediate inspection, and service vehicles were waiting on the runway. Passengers noted feeling the brakes heating up during taxi, which may have led to multiple stops to allow the brakes to cool down before reaching the gate.
While overweight landings can potentially cause damage to both the aircraft and the runway surface, they are permissible if necessary. The crew’s precautionary measures demonstrated their commitment to safety and operational integrity.
Due to the need for inspection and the crew’s operational hours, the flight was ultimately postponed until the following day. The aircraft involved in the incident, registered as SE-RSD, is one of SAS’s four Airbus A350-900s, which are approximately 4.3 years old, having been delivered to the airline in July 2020. The aircraft features a three-class layout with a capacity of up to 300 passengers, including 40 business class seats, 32 premium economy seats, and 228 economy class seats.
As of the latest updates, the Airbus A350 remains grounded in Copenhagen, 36 hours after the lightning strike incident. This event serves as a reminder of the challenges and unpredictable nature of aviation, highlighting the importance of crew training and aircraft readiness in ensuring passenger safety.
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