Atlantic Southeast Airlines Lightning Strike: This Would Get Anyone's Attention
Thanks to one of our American Airlines' pilot friends who sent us these photos this morning of an Atlantic Southeast Airlines/Delta Connection aircraft, after it suffered a lightning strike.
If these photos don't scare the you-know-what out of you, I'm not sure what would.
As he said to me in his note, "Wonder what the Captain's seat cushion looked like after this..."
Comments
Seat cushion? I expect it looks like a diamond just now.
Posted by: Joseph Palmer
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April 8, 2009 12:34 PM
I don't think it was lightning, see:
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20090303X74824&key=1
ASA Airlines flight 5533, a Bombardier CRJ-200, experienced a cockpit fire on the ground shortly after external power was applied to the airplane in preparation for flight. The captain and one flight attendant evacuated the airplane via an airstair without injuries. They were the only individuals on the airplane at the time. The fire department extinguished the fire after it had burned an approximate 18 inch hole through the left upper cockpit crown skin. The flight, intended to be conducted as Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121 scheduled service, was to be flown from Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH), Tallahassee, Florida, to Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Atlanta, Georgia.
Posted by: briyyz
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April 8, 2009 12:45 PM
Yikes! Does anyone know where this happened?
Posted by: Paul
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April 8, 2009 1:51 PM
The NTSB report does not mention lightning. Ground power was applied in preparation for flight at Tallahassee and the fire broke out in the cockpit. Captain and flight attendant were the only people on board and evacuated the plane without any injuries.
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20090303X74824
Posted by: jlbare
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April 8, 2009 2:40 PM
Actually, I believe that this is a lightning strike. If you look at the damage, you can tell by the beveling that it occurred on the outside of the aircraft. If a fire had occurred in the cockpit, then the hole would have been beveled outwards, not inwards as shown on this photo.
Posted by: MikeKade
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April 9, 2009 11:29 AM