Brussels Airlines Flight Struck by Lightning Over Zaventem
A Brussels Airlines Airbus A320neo was struck by lightning shortly after departing from Brussels Airport in Zaventem on Monday afternoon, prompting the crew to return immediately for a precautionary safety inspection. All 176 passengers and six crew members on board were unharmed, and the aircraft landed safely back at the airport, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.
The Incident
The aircraft, an Airbus A320neo registered as OO-SBB, was operating flight SN2825 from Brussels to Budapest. Scheduled to depart at 15:10 local time, the flight took off at approximately 15:30. Shortly after climbing out from Brussels Airport, the plane was hit by a lightning strike.
Passenger Dirk Staelens, who was on board, described the moment. “Although we saw the lightning strike, there was no panic on board,” he told HLN. “A quarter of an hour after the incident, the pilot reported that the aircraft had been hit by lightning and that Brussels Airlines had decided to return to Zaventem as a precaution for a technical inspection.”
According to Aviation24.be, the aircraft landed safely back in Brussels, where technicians carried out the required inspections.
Airline Response
Brussels Airlines spokesperson Nico Cardone confirmed the incident and reassured the public about the safety of modern aircraft. “It is correct that one of our aircraft was struck by lightning on Monday, shortly after takeoff,” Cardone said. “Aircraft are designed to withstand this, so safety was never compromised. As a precaution, the aircraft returned to Zaventem for a technical inspection.”
The airline quickly arranged a replacement Airbus A320 (registration OO-TCH) to complete the journey to Budapest. Passengers departed Brussels again at approximately 18:02 and landed in the Hungarian capital at 19:42 local time, experiencing a delay of roughly two and a half hours.
Staelens praised the airline’s handling of the situation. “The service from Brussels Airlines was excellent. We didn’t think we would still make it to Budapest the same day,” he said.
Aircraft Returned to Service
Following a thorough inspection, the original aircraft (OO-SBB) was cleared and returned to service. It was scheduled to operate a flight from Nice on 19 May, according to the airline.
Safety Context
Lightning strikes on commercial aircraft are relatively common. Aviation experts note that commercial aircraft are struck by lightning on average once per year per aircraft. Modern airliners, particularly those with composite materials like the Airbus A320neo, are designed using Faraday cage principles that channel electrical current around the exterior, protecting passengers and sensitive electronics.
Brussels Airlines has experienced similar incidents in the past, including a lightning strike on a flight to Yerevan in December 2024 and another on a flight to Accra in March 2024. In each case, the aircraft returned safely as a precaution.
What’s Next
The incident caused no injuries and minimal disruption beyond the 2.5-hour delay for passengers. The swift response by the flight crew and the airline’s efficient handling of the situation underscore the robustness of modern aviation safety protocols. Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 confirms that the replacement flight landed in Budapest at 19:42 local time, bringing the incident to a safe conclusion.