MEA Assures its Planes are Equipped to Handle Thunderbolts

Lebanon's Middle East Airlines denied on Saturday reports alleging that an electric malfunction hit a plane's electronic equipment en route from Turkey to Lebanon, and assured that its planes are equipped to handle thunderbolts.

“A company's aircraft had suffered a lightning strike due to bad weather conditions over the northern region of Turkey. Planes usually face such conditions. It is our duty to make clear that all our planes are equipped to protect against thunderbolts,” MEA said in a statement.

“The plane did not encounter any electric or technical malfunctions, as it was not exposed to any risks that endanger safety as stated in some local news,” said the statement.

It added that the pilot has reassured the passengers as soon as lighting hit the plane and that the landing process was normal at the Beirut airport.

Reports said on Friday that a MEA plane suffered some malfunction following a lightning strike that hit it while it was in flight from Turkey to Lebanon.