A Hawaiian Airlines flight headed to Honolulu from Las Vegas had to return shortly after takeoff due to a lightning strike. 

The event took place on Sunday, October 1. Just moments after its 7:57 pm departure, Hawaiian Airlines Flight 5 ran into a thunderstorm, during which a lightning bolt made contact with the plane. 

Julie-Anna Bardon, a passenger aboard the flight, recounted her experience. She noted the apprehension among the passengers after the lightning hit. She shared, “The most nerve-wracking moment was when we were hit by the lightning. There were individuals on the plane visibly upset.” Additionally, she voiced uncertainty regarding the plane’s integrity and the chances of a safe landing.

Records show that after approximately 20 minutes in the air, the decision was made by the flight crew to head back to Las Vegas. The plane made a successful landing at Harry Reid International Airport near 8:30 pm.

In an official statement, Hawaiian Airlines acknowledged the diversion due to the lightning. The safety of all 278 passengers and the crew of 11 was confirmed. For their inconvenience, the airline provided accommodations and meals. The subsequent flight to Honolulu was rescheduled for 4 am on Tuesday, October 3.

Statistics from The National Weather Service show that these kinds of incidents aren’t common, as commercial airlines report only one or two such occurrences annually. Despite modern planes being engineered to withstand lightning and the absence of recent crashes attributed to it, regulations require airlines to conduct inspections after such encounters to ascertain any possible damage.