(CNN) — The FAA is investigating an emergency landing of a Spirit Airlines flight after the crew reported the plane was twice struck by lightning shortly after takeoff from Philadelphia.
Spirit said the Airbus A321 en route to Cancun “returned to Philadelphia International Airport as a precaution after the crew reported a suspected lightning strike.”
“The plane landed safely and we are currently working to re-accommodate our guests,” Spirit said in a statement to CNN. The airline did not say how many passengers were on board.
Air traffic control LiveATC recordings capture exchanges between flight crew and Philadelphia air traffic controllers. “We were struck twice by lightning,” the crew said. “We have to go back to the airport.”
The Federal Aviation Administration says the incident happened around 11 a.m. local time on Friday and the agency will investigate the incident.
The incident is the latest fallout from a storm that caused more than 4,000 flight cancellations nationwide on Friday, according to FlightAware data. Airlines have issued travel waivers for many parts of the US, allowing passengers to rebook for a short time slot without penalty.
Photo above: A Spirit Airlines jet approaches Philadelphia International Airport in February 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)