Lightning strikes Loganair flight

A SCHEDULED flight carrying five passengers from Inverness to Sumburgh on Monday morning was struck by lightning, operator Loganair confirmed.

The airline said that the lightning strike occurred as the Saab 340 approached the Shetland airport, but the plane landed safely at 10.43am slightly ahead of schedule.

A Loganair spokeswoman said: “Lightning strikes are rare, but can occur and there is a routine procedure to be followed after such an event, requiring a full engineering inspection of the aircraft and its electrical systems.

“This is presently under way at Sumburgh and alternative aircraft are being used to maintain our flight schedules today to minimise disruption to customers.”