Dramatic video has emerged of the moment an aircraft was struck by lightning while landing in the midst of a large storm in Central America.
A camera located in the cockpit of a Boeing 737 flying above Panama captured the terrifying moment the bolt struck the nose of the aircraft, which was descending to land.
A person associated with the flight shared the video with Newshub, however wanted to remain anonymous.
They said the video was taken last week on board a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
Tocumen International Airport is the busiest airport in Panama and services flights from over 20 airlines including Air China, Air France, American Airlines, Copa Airlines, Delta, United and Lufthansa.
It’s not uncommon for aircraft to be struck by lightning, and pilots and crew are trained specifically in what to do in case of a lightning strike.
Late last year, a Newshub reporter documented what it was like being on board a flight struck by lightning and said many on board didn’t even notice.
"There was a bright flash of white and a rumbling sound, and the screens and lights flickered a bit. It was just like when you have a power surge at home, but other than that, it wasn't very dramatic at all," he said.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), for every 1000 hours of flying, an aircraft will be struck once, the equivalent of an aircraft being hit once a year.
And while the experience may look frightening, technology advancements mean lightning isn’t a major threat to passenger safety. The last major crash due to lightning was in December 1963 when a Pan Am Boeing 777 crashed in Maryland, killing all 81 on board.
