MID-AIR STRIKE
Terrifying moment lightning bolt hits Aer Lingus plane with ‘loud bang’ near Birmingham Airport during Storm Ciara
THIS is the moment a packed passenger plane was hit by a thunderous bolt of lightning during ferocious Storm Ciara.
The jet was headed to Dublin from Birmingham airport and had just taken off when a "loud bang" erupted.
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Footage captured on nearby CCTV shows the fierce storm with rain and wind lashing at the camera's lens.
The plane can be seen soaring through the murky skies above scores of houses on a Birmingham street.
A mighty lightning bolt then crashes through the sky with a loud bang, hitting the jet mid-flight.
But incredibly, aside from some interesting noises, the plane continues on its journey completely unaffected.
It has been confirmed the flight landed safely in Dublin at 10.40 pm.
Daniel Pereira, 31, who captured the footage on his home security camera said: "We were watching TV when we saw a huge light on the other side of our closed blinds and then a heard a huge noise which made our dogs jump.
"Our dogs don't normally care about thunderstorm noise so it was strange that were so scared.
"We couldn't believe what it had been".
FLIGHTMARE
Since Daniel uploaded the footage to Facebook it has been shared over 10,000 times.
Users flocked to the comments adding they too had seen the bizarre close shave - and heard an almighty bang.
One user wrote: "Heard this at the Heathway, a strange sounding crack of lightning and then what sounded like a jet engine revving in reverse".
A spokesperson for Aer Lingus confirmed the flight "encountered lightning" but was unaffected.
She said: "Aircraft are designed to withstand lightning strikes by using static wicks which allow the electricity to pass back into the air from the fuselage".
Storm Ciara caused unimaginable damage as it ravaged the UK yesterday and claimed two lives.
A 77-year-old man slipped on ice and fatally banged his head, while a 58-year-old driver was killed when a falling tree hit his acr.
As well as the tragic deaths, the 97mph winds upended trees, tore roofs from buildings and even opened up a huge sinkhole.
Up to 80cm of rain fell in Cumbria, flooding countless homes and businesses.
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The carnage prompted the Government to activate an emergency financial aid package.
Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick said: "I have activated the emergency Bellwin scheme to support communities affected by Storm Ciara in West Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire."
Under the Bellwin scheme, local authorities dealing with the effects of the storm can apply to have some of their costs reimbursed by the Government.
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