LOC19:14
16:14 GMT
PILOT "STRUCK BY LIGHTNING" ON PASSENGER FLIGHT
LONDON, FEB 20 (KUNA) -- A BRITISH AIRWAYS (BA) PILOT FELT "AS IF HE HAD
BEEN
KICKED IN THE CHEST" AFTER BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING IN THE COCKPIT DURING A
PASSENGER FLIGHT, AN AIR ACCIDENT REPORT SAID TUESDAY.
THE PILOT, A FIRST OFFICER, HAD TO HAND OVER THE CONTROLS OF THE BOEING 757
TO HIS CAPTAIN AFTER THE INCIDENT.
A MEDICAL EXAMINATION LATER REVEALED "A BURN WOUND IN HIS CHEST CONSISTENT
WITH AN ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE", SAID THE BRITISH AIR ACCIDENTS INVESTIGATION
BRANCH REPORT.
THE PILOT RETURNED TO FLYING DUTIES TWO WEEKS AFTER THE INCIDENT ON THE
APPROACH TO AMSTERDAM AIRPORT ON OCTOBER 10, 2000.
BUT HE SUBSEQUENTLY DEVELOPED A MEDICAL CONDITION "THAT MAY BE A CONSEQUENCE
OF THE INCIDENT", THE REPORT ADDED.
BA SAID TODAY THAT THE PILOT WAS STILL NOT BACK AT WORK BUT THAT HE HOPED TO
BE FLYING AGAIN SOON.
THE FLIGHT FROM LONDON WAS CARRYING 151 PASSENGERS AND NINE CREW.
THE PILOT HAD HIS RIGHT ARM RESTING CLOSE TO THE FORWARD WINDSCREEN IN THE
COCKPIT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING JUST BELOW THE RIGHT
WINDSCREEN AT A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 5,000 FEET.
THE PILOT WAS "AWARE OF A LOUD BANG AND A BRIGHT FLASH", AND THEN FOUND
DIFFICULTY IN USING HIS RIGHT ARM, THE REPORT CONCLUDED. (END)
HE.MAB
KUNA 201914 Feb 01NNNN