Blair's plane hit by lightning; no injuries...

drudge

[Maedhros]

nothing follows

[Pan_Yans Wife]

This recently happened to Jeb Bush, too. Is God trying to say something? (Joking!)

[MississippiMan]

Is God trying to say something? (Joking!)

No, but Satan may be trying to fool someone. That's what he does. And the world and its air are in a way his domain, I do believe. (Not joking.)

MM

[Maedhros]

From Ananova:

Blair arrives for key talks with Bush

Tony Blair has arrived in the US for key talks with George W Bush.

The chartered British Airways plane touched down at Andrews Air Force base outside Washington.

About 20 minutes before landing the 777 jet was struck by a small lightning bolt while flying at about 10,000 feet.

The lightning struck the left-hand wing but did not cause it to change course or descend.

Captain John Lindsey quickly reassured Mr Blair, his officials and reporters travelling on the plane.

After landing, Mr Blair was due to be flown by US Marine Corps helicopter to Camp David where he will have a working dinner with President Bush.

[Archangelsk]

No, lightning strikes happen all the time to aircraft and they are built to survive them. It has been reported that every commercial airplane in the U.S. suffers at least one strike per year.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Every one? I guess they are really well made, then. That is an interesting statistic.

[Mr. K]

you are right- and a lightning strike does little or NO damage. Electricity flows around the skin. For further study look up Faraday's Cage.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I just thank God Blair's okay.

[FRgal4u]

interesting..

i too find it weird to have all these things...maybe the Satan is trying to send us a message...

the shuttle break up over texas
jeb bush's plane
biggest sandstorm in iraq for over 2 decades
blair's plane

...

hummm...

i just hope the God for the good will lend us a hand soon...

i heard weather in iraq will be calm for two weeks after this weekend...

and according to the tribes in afghan...rain finally arrives this year, after an incredible drought lasted for over 2 decades...

hummm..

jmho.

[Diddle E. Squat]

"RAT FARTS!!!!!!!!!!"

[AFPhys]

It is rather COMMON for lightning to hit an airplane. Very seldom is there any significant damage. Take it form a high-flying time pilot, this is a non-story.

[Kawolski]

Scientist: Happens to planes all the time.
Al-Quida: God hates you!
Liberal who can't tell between Hollywood and reality: THE EARTH'S CORE HAS STOPPED SPINNING!!!!

[js1138]

Not quite true. Lightning seldom disables a plane, but often puts pinholes in the skin.

[Samwise]

Thank you. I needed to read that. I was getting nervous there for a second. :^)

[Wthrman13]

Correct. Lightning can indeed cause physical damage to the skin of an aircraft, and can sometimes cause problems with the plane's electrical systems.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Whew! and Thanks!

[Pdljpr]

You might want to take a look at this ANA 747 Lightening Strike Video.
http://airlinebiz.com/wire/ana

[Thinkin' Gal]

The lightning struck the left-hand wing but did not cause it to change course...

Another left wing problem.

[MississippiMan]

He'd love for folks to interpret these things as signs from God—convincing people that evil is good and good is evil has been his primary modus operandi for several thousand years.

MM

[Prodigal Daughter]

Lightning as in baraq - a glittering sword.

Coincidence?: This early morning I was half asleep listening to C-Span showing the UK Morning Show live, I think that would be shown at 6:30 a.m. in the UK, so maybe it was about 2 a.m. here. I heard something about Blair's plans to meet with Bush later today and speak to Bush about joining up with the UN after the Iraq war, and then presenting the Mideast Peace Plan to Bush and the need to expedite it, and that Blair really needed this to please his Parliament after the Iraq war, and as I fell asleep I was wondering, Hmmm, what kind of a Peace Plan? Maybe this is the real Blair Witch Project...