Terrifying moment lightning blasts plane wing mid-flight leaving passengers screaming

A lightning bolt struck the wing of a Viva Airlines flight as it travelled from Puerto Escondido International Airport in Mexico to Felipe Angeles International Airport in Mexico City

Air passengers were left screaming in terror after a brutal lightning strike blasted their plane mid-flight, leaving part of the wing glowing and smoking. Shocking video filmed by a passenger shows a massive electrical bolt rip through the sky and smash into the Viva flight’s left wing.

Following a blinding flash, a trail of smoke is seen pouring from the winglet as terrified holidaymakers in Mexico realise just how close they came to disaster on the flight from Puerto Escondido to Mexico City.

Viva told local press: “A lightning strike did occur. The aircraft was never at any point in danger, not in the slightest. It reached its destination without any problems.”

The incident occurred during the first few weeks of the rainy season in Mexico’s Oaxaca state.

The coastal region, where Puerto Escondido is situated, experiences some of the most intense thunderstorm activity in the country during this period.

This year’s season is predicted to be more active than usual due to warmer-than-average Pacific Ocean conditions.

According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a commercial aircraft is struck by lightning on average about once a year.

The vast majority of incidents cause no structural damage and pose no risk to passengers.

One viewer said: “Basically nothing happens, but it’s still impressive and quite frightening mid-flight.”

While a bolt of lightning striking a wing looks like a scene straight out of a Hollywood disaster movie, modern planes are rigorously tested to survive the extreme weather.

The electrical current usually hits an extremity, like the nose or a wing tip, before traveling harmlessly through the airframe and exiting at the tail, leaving the engines and electronics completely unaffected.

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