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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.
