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How IndiGo Passengers Survived a 1 Billion Volt Lightning Strike at 17000 Feet
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News18•08-10-2026, 13:49
How IndiGo Passengers Survived a 1 Billion Volt Lightning Strike at 17000 Feet
- •An IndiGo flight from Patna to Ahmedabad was struck by a powerful bolt of lightning while flying at an altitude of 17000 feet.
- •The lightning severely damaged the aircrafts nose cone or radome, but all 110 people on board remained completely safe.
- •The aircraft successfully made a safe precautionary landing at Lucknows Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport.
- •Modern aircraft utilize the Faraday Cage principle, ensuring high-voltage electricity travels only along the exterior surface and away from passengers.
- •The aircraft has been grounded for a thorough technical inspection, and the DGCA has been duly informed as per standard operating procedures.
Key Questions Answered
Passengers and internal systems remained completely unharmed because of the Faraday Cage principle, where the aircraft's conductive metal exterior safely discharges high-voltage electricity along its surface.
The nose cone, or radome, which protects the weather radar at the front of the aircraft, sustained severe damage during the incident.
Following a safe precautionary landing at Lucknow's airport, the aircraft was immediately grounded for a thorough technical inspection and necessary repairs before receiving regulator approval to resume service.
