Posted: Tue 1st Nov 2022

Airbus confirms Beluga struck by lightning shortly after taking off from Hawarden

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales
This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Nov 1st, 2022

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Airbus has confirmed its BelugaXL transport aircraft was struck by lightning while over Connah’s Quay this afternoon. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A huge blue flash was seen and an explosion was heard across Deeside at around 1pm. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The lightning bolt was seen at the same time as an Airbus Beluga XL5 transport aircraft was overhead, many said they saw the aircraft being struck. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The flight has continued as normal to Hamburg. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A spokesperson for Airbus UK said: “At 13:00 today, Beluga XL5 departing Hawarden Airport was struck by lightning. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“This is a routine event in aviation and the aircraft continued with its journey to Hamburg as planned.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“In accordance with standard operating procedure, the aircraft will be inspected before its next flight.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The strike was captured on dashcam by Glenn Smethurst. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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Following the lighting strike, people reported electricity supplies going off, others said they had lost internet connections. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A lightning tracker map shows strikes took place over the Mold Road area. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Many took to social media saying they had never heard thunder so loud. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

One person commented: “Me and my kids jumped out of our skin, all I saw was a bright blue light, and the biggest boom I’ve ever heard in my life.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Another resident commenting on Connah’s Quay Facebook said: “I saw bright blue light, and heard the massive boom, I’ve been in a thunder storm in Florida and never heard anything like that bang before.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

SP Energy Network said it was “aware of a fault” near Glynne Street. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A lightning tracker map shows strikes took place over the Mold Road area. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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