- Qantas flight QF2164 was ordered back to Sydney after it was struck by lightning
- Passengers were not in danger but plane was forced to turn back for inspection
- Destination airport of Port Macquarie doesn’t have required engineering support
A Qantas flight has been forced to turn back to Sydney after being struck by lightning.
Passengers were not in danger during the incident involving flight QF2164 to Port Macquarie, which was hit while flying over the New South Wales Hunter Valley.
A Qantas spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the flight was ordered back to Sydney after the lightning strike.
A Qantas flight has been forced to turn back to Sydney after being struck by lightning (stock image)
‘Aircraft are designed to withstand and fly safely when struck by lightning but it is policy that they get inspected at their arrival port after a strike,’ Qantas said.
‘Port Macquarie does not have the engineering support required for this inspection so the flight returned to Sydney.
‘At no point was the safety of the flight compromised. Customers have been transferred onto another flight departing shortly.’
Lightning strikes on passenger jets are not uncommon, and modern planes are designed to withstand and operate safely when they encounter one, Qantas said.
More to come
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