Passengers aboard LATAM flight LA341 experienced a frightening moment when lightning struck the aircraft mid-air, producing a blinding flash and a loud bang inside the cabin. The plane was travelling from Antofagasta to Santiago in Chile on Tuesday amid heavy rain and thunderstorms.
Footage filmed from inside the aircraft captured the moment the cabin was illuminated by the strike. Terrified passengers can be heard gasping in fright before nervous laughter spread through the cabin following the rare event.
Safe Landing After the Strike
Despite the lightning strike, the plane landed safely at Santiago International Airport minutes later, according to reports in the local press. LATAM Airlines confirmed the incident, stating: “Flight LA341, operating the Antofagasta–Santiago route, was struck by lightning during its operation on Tuesday.”
The airline explained that aircraft are designed and certified for such weather phenomena, adding: “This is a weather phenomenon for which aircraft are designed and certified, and they have systems that allow this type of discharge to be safely dissipated. The aircraft landed normally at Santiago Airport and all passengers disembarked safely.”
How Aircraft Handle Lightning
LATAM also emphasised that “the safety of its passengers and crew is a non-negotiable value in all its operations.” Aviation experts note that lightning strikes are relatively common, with commercial planes built to withstand them.
An aircraft’s metal fuselage directs the electrical current along its exterior rather than through the cabin, while special devices on the wings and tail help discharge electricity safely. On average, each commercial aircraft is struck by lightning around once a year, and planes are inspected afterwards to check for damage to their structure or electronic systems.
