Picture credits: X
North Carolina: On December 20, 2024, American Airlines flight AA506, operated by an Airbus A321-200, experienced a lightning strike shortly after departing from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). The flight, bound for Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA), had taken off at 5:21 p.m. local time, delayed from its scheduled departure time of 4:18 p.m.
During its take off, as the aircraft traveled through FL290 (about 29,000 feet), it was struck by lightning, which damaged the plane’s nose. Following the incident, the aircraft crew decided to cease the ascent, begin a cautious descent, and return to Charlotte. The plane landed safely less than an hour after takeoff, at around 6:15 p.m. local time.
A subsequent report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the event, stating, “Aircraft departed and was struck by lightning, damaging the nose. Charlotte, NC.”
The aircraft, an 8.1-year-old Airbus A321-200 registered as N996AN, was immediately taken out of service for inspection and repairs.
No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew onboard. American Airlines praised its pilots for their professionalism and emphasized the industry-standard design of commercial aircraft to withstand lightning strikes safely.
Just a few days later, on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, at approximately 7:00 a.m. ET, American Airlines faced another major challenge when it requested a nationwide ground stop. The stoppage, attributed to a “vendor technology issue” affecting critical flight operation systems, lasted until 8:00 a.m. ET.
This hour-long halt caused widespread delays and cancellations, disrupting the travel plans of thousands of holiday passengers.
Although flights gradually resumed after the issue was resolved, the ripple effect led to continued delays throughout the day. Travelers voiced frustration over the lack of communication and the impact on their holiday schedules during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
In response to passenger complaints on X, American Airlines issued an apology to its customers, stating, “Our teams are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible, and we apologize to our customers for any inconvenience.”
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