United Airlines flight diverts due to lightning strike en route from Newark

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United Airlines flight diverts due to lightning strike en route from Newark

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Simple Flying | Simple Flying

By Sky Industry News

Jan 3, 2025

A United Airlines flight from Newark to London was forced to divert to Boston on New Year's Eve after being struck by lightning. The Boeing 767-300ER, operating as Flight 16, took off from Newark Liberty Airport at 21:23 and encountered the incident shortly thereafter. According to Flightradar24, the aircraft reached an altitude of 33,000 feet before changing course between Maine and Nova Scotia.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the plane landed safely at Boston Logan International Airport at 22:50. A spokesperson stated, "United Airlines Flight 16 safely diverted to Boston Logan International Airport after the crew reported a lightning strike."

Upon landing, emergency services found no injuries among the passengers or crew. The airline provided overnight accommodations for all passengers and rebooked them on another flight to London. An airline representative said, "On December 31st, United flight 16 from Newark Liberty International Airport to London diverted to Boston after reports of lightning. The aircraft landed normally and was briefly inspected by emergency crews." Passengers continued their journey on January 1st aboard a different flight which arrived in London without further issues.

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The affected Boeing 767-300ER was initially ordered by United Airlines in December 1991 and delivered in March 1993 under registration N657UA. It is expected to remain operational until at least 2027.

In related incidents, another United Airlines flight bound for Hawaii returned to Los Angeles due to an engine issue on New Year's Eve. Additionally, a Republic Airways flight operating as American Airlines faced a potential lightning strike while en route from Ohio to Boston and diverted safely to Pittsburgh.

Lightning strikes on commercial planes are not uncommon but typically do not cause significant damage due to design features that direct electricity away from critical components.