An Airbus Beluga flight from Wales to Germany was struck by lightning on Tuesday morning (1 November) after taking off from Hawarden Airport in Flintshire.
The freighter Beluga XL5 was en route to Hamburg, Germany, and was briefly airborne before being struck by lightning, causing an “explosion”. Despite the accident, the plane managed to reach the target normally.
Footage from surveillance cameras in the area captured the scene. Dozens of residents in the area reported hearing a massive “explosion” sound and a bright white flash.
“This is a routine aviation event and the aircraft continued its journey to Hamburg as planned. As per standard operating procedure, the aircraft will be inspected before the next flight,” said an Airbus UK spokesman.
What is an Airbus Beluga?
Beluga is the trade name for an Airbus cargo aircraft that, like parts of other aircraft, can carry large volumes. The model stands out not only for its size, but also for its shape, which resembles that of a white whale, a species also known as the beluga, a common animal in the Arctic. The Beluga XL completed its first commercial flight in 2020.