A China Southern Airlines Airbus A321 was struck by lightning while taxiing for departure at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, forcing the flight to return to the gate and undergo a safety inspection.
The incident happened on Saturday afternoon, when Flight CZ3209 was preparing to depart Shenzhen for Wuxi in Jiangsu province. The aircraft was taxiing and waiting in a queue for take-off as a thunderstorm moved across the airport area.
According to a passenger who later described the frightening experience on social media, the aircraft was already moving when a sudden thunderclap occurred during heavy rain and strong winds. The passenger said the aircraft shook as the storm intensified before what appeared to be a lightning strike occurred extremely close to the plane.
No injuries among passengers or crew members were reported following the incident.
Aircraft Returned To Gate For Safety Inspection
After the suspected lightning strike, the pilot reportedly informed passengers that the aircraft would need to be inspected before it could continue its journey.
China Southern Airlines later confirmed the incident to Shenzhen Media Group’s news portal The First Scene. Ground maintenance staff inspected the Airbus A321 after it returned to the gate.
The inspection reportedly found approximately 20 lightning strike marks on parts of the aircraft, including its underbelly and elevators.
The elevators are movable flight-control surfaces located on the aircraft’s tail. They help pilots control the aircraft’s pitch during flight, making inspection of the affected areas particularly important before the aircraft can safely depart.
Rather than continuing the flight immediately, the airline grounded the aircraft while the necessary checks were carried out.
Passengers Face Four-Hour Delay
The lightning incident resulted in passengers facing a delay of around four hours, according to reports.
While being struck by lightning may sound extremely dangerous to passengers inside an aircraft, commercial aircraft are specifically designed to withstand lightning strikes. Aircraft undergo extensive certification and testing to ensure that lightning does not cause catastrophic damage to their structure or critical systems.
However, that does not mean an aircraft can simply continue its journey without inspection after a suspected strike.
Lightning can leave visible marks on an aircraft’s exterior and may potentially affect components or systems. Airlines therefore carry out inspections to determine whether any repairs or additional maintenance are required before the aircraft returns to service.
The Shenzhen incident also highlights the challenges airlines face when thunderstorms develop around busy airports.
Aircraft may be particularly vulnerable to lightning strikes during ground operations because they are exposed to severe weather while taxiing or waiting for departure. Strong winds, heavy rain and lightning can also create additional operational challenges for airport operators and flight crews.
For the passengers aboard CZ3209, what had started as a routine departure quickly turned into an unexpected wait at the airport.
Although the sight and sound of lightning striking an aircraft can be terrifying, the fact that the Airbus A321 returned safely to the gate and was subsequently inspected demonstrates why strict aviation safety procedures are in place.
The approximately 20 strike marks discovered by maintenance crews also showed why the aircraft was not simply allowed to continue its journey after the dramatic encounter with the thunderstorm.