Panic at 30,000ft as plane forced to make emergency landing after right engine is struck by lightning in severe storm over Italy
- Lightning bolt struck the plane's right engine on a flight across Italy
- None of the plane's 51 passengers and crew was injured
- Plane was taken out of service and inspected by engineers for any damage
- Storms destroyed homes and overturned cars in Sicily
- Rome schools were closed and residents were told to stay home
Passengers were left terrified when an Alitalia plane was struck by lightning as it flew through a severe storm over Italy on Wednesday night.
The captain chose to make an emergency landing after the commercial aircraft’s right engine was hit by a lightning bolt on a cross-country flight from Ancona.
None of the plane’s 51 passengers and crew was injured, and the ATR 72 twin turboprop aircraft landed safely at Rome’s Fiumicino airport.
An Alitalia plane was struck by lightning during a flight across Italy on Wednesday (different aircraft pictured)
Italy’s Ansa news agency said there were ‘moments of fear’ on board the small plane when the incident occurred during the one-hour flight.
The plane was taken out of service and inspected by engineers to determine the extent of any damage.
A similar incident occurred in February when an Alitalia flight from Rome was hit by lightning as it prepared to land in stormy weather in Genoa.
On its website, aircraft manufacturer Boeing says lightning strikes to aeroplanes are relatively common but rarely disrupt the safe operation of a plane.
Birk Mobius snapped a photo of a plane being struck by lightning in a rainbow over Germany last August
Wild weather: Severe storms swept through Catania on the east coast of Sicily
Massive damage: The storms in Sicily destroyed homes, overturned cars and uprooted trees
Wednesday’s lightning strike occurred as parts of Italy were pounded by powerful storms that destroyed homes, overturned cars and uprooted trees.
At least eight people were reportedly injured as storms swept across the island of Sicily, The Local reported.
Schools in Rome were closed on Thursday and there were disruptions to bus and metro services.
Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino encouraged residents to stay home for their own safety.
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
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