An EasyJet flight was forced to make an emergency landing at London Gatwick Airport after being struck by lightning shortly after take-off. The incident occurred on Thursday, May 14, as the aircraft was climbing through storm clouds.
Flight U28305 (also designated EZY8305) departed from runway 08R at 2.22pm bound for Milan. The Airbus A319 was hit by lightning as it ascended, prompting pilots to carry out systems checks at around 16,000 feet before deciding to return to Gatwick.
The jet landed safely back on the runway. An EasyJet spokesperson confirmed that the aircraft is designed to withstand lightning strikes and that safety was not compromised. Passengers were given refreshments and a replacement crew and aircraft were arranged to continue the journey to Milan later that evening.
A Gatwick Airport spokesperson said: 'We can confirm the EZY8305 A319 requested an emergency landing at London Gatwick after a reported lightning strike shortly after departure yesterday (May 14). It returned to the airport where it landed safely.'
Bad weather, including strong winds and heavy rain, was reported in the area at the time. The lightning strike was captured on camera and widely shared on social media.
