The incredible moment a plane's wing was hit by LIGHTNING while flying through a storm

A passenger on board an Etihad Airways flight has captured rare footage of lighting hitting a plane as it flew through turbulent weather.

The fascinating video shows the passenger jet flying through clouds when its right wing is hit.
Passenger Mitchell Stewart recorded the incredible footage as he flew from Abu Dhabi to Paris on Wednesday.

Video credit: Passenger Mitchell Stewart

Stewart, who was in a window seat, said the Boeing 777-300ER was on its approach to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport when the lightning strike occurred.
He said the plane went on to make a safe landing in Paris shortly after.

According to online flight tracking services, Etihad flight ETD37 landed at about 2pm local time after a seven-hour journey from Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Stewart’s video went viral after he posted it on YouTube, where it has had more than 50,000 views, and it was shared on social media websites such as Reddit and Facebook.

Viewers were mesmerised by the clip.
One wrote on YouTube: ‘The movement of the plane as it created that connection is just awesome to see.
‘The continuing residual trail was even better. Incredible capture.'
Reddit users said the video doesn't capture a direct hit.
One wrote: 'That is a static discharge. The strike was on the opposite wing.' 
It is not uncommon for aircraft to be struck by lightning while flying in bad weather and they are built to withstand a direct hit.
Most strikes cause little or no damage to the plane, an expert said.

British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) spokesperson Captain Steven Draper previously told MailOnline Travel: 'Lightning strikes do not affect the flying of an aeroplane, although when flying near or through thunderstorms, pilots might employ specific procedures. Pilots use the weather radar to avoid the worst areas of a storm.

'Aeroplanes have a published "turbulence speed" which provides the best passenger comfort and protection from the turbulence. In a storm the pilot may adopt that speed.
'Other procedures a pilot might employ include turning up the flight deck lighting to reduce the dazzling effect of lightning and ensuring the aircraft ice protection is on.'
He added: 'Most of the time lightning strikes do not need any specific action, although a reassuring PA to the passengers can help if it has caused concern.
'In many cases there is little or no damage caused by lightning strikes. However, sometimes a small part - often the nose cone - needs to be replaced. Areas that are prone to lightning damage are normally fairly straightforward to replace.
'After landing the pilot would make an entry in the Aeroplanes Technical Log referring to the lightning strike so the engineers can check the aeroplane for damage. There are also some other forms to fill out.' 

LIGHTNING STRIKES ON PLANES - IS THERE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT?

Although it may sound a terrifying prospect, commercial aircraft around the world are bombarded with bolts of lightning every single day.
According to experts, in an average year any given airliner can expect to be struck at least once on its travels.
Indeed, as the fuselage of most planes is made of conductive aluminium, their presence in storm clouds, where huge amounts of static electricity gather, can actually trigger the discharges.
But due to strict regulations, all passenger planes must be built with electrical shielding which protects the inside of the plane from the effects of lightning bolts.
Those on board often fail to notice that the plane has been hit at all, or experience nothing more than a quick flash.
It is estimated that aircraft shielding is strong enough to withstand voltages ten times the amount of a typical bolt, and no planes have been brought down by lightning since 1967.
The worst to be expected from a lightning blast is a visible scorch mark. Occasionally flights that are struck early in their journey are diverted as a safety precaution. 

(culled from www.dailymail.co.uk)