Shocking moment lightning strikes US plane full of passengers just after landing in storm
The shocking moment when lightning struck a US plane full of passengers just after landing in a storm has been captured on tape.
In the footage, the American Eagle plane - the regional branch of American Airlines - can be seen getting absolutely blasted by a flash of lightning after flying into a storm in Arkanas.
The aircraft in question, an Embraer E175, had just landed and was waiting for the storm to pass before moving to the gate when the freak streak of electricity tore from the heavens on Sunday afternoon (25 June). Check it out:
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The photographer who captured the harrowing moment, identified by Viral Press as Jason William Hamm, can be heard discussing a previous fork of lightning that hit just moments before.
Hamm said: "I don't think it hit the plane, it still would have made an amazing video though."
While he thought he had missed the chance to capture the phenomenal weather - it's clear he was given a second chance as just mere seconds later, a momentous clap of thunder was heard overhead as lightning shook the aircraft causing quite the reaction off-camera.
Onlookers can be heard gasping 'woah' in sheer shock, while another added: "Wow, that would not be good."
Hamm has since explained the aftermath of the freak incident, revealing: "The plane had just landed.
"It couldn't move to a gate because the ramp closes to everyone when lightning is detected within three miles of the airport."
After the lightning strike, the aircraft managed to travel to the gate to let passengers off before technicians arrived at the scene to have a look at any damage done at the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock.
Hamm confirmed: "The plane was fine, it taxied to the gate normally after an extended wait on the taxiway due to the storm."
And this isn't the only airplane drama to have struck this month as just a week ago, passengers were left absolutely shocked after the emergency slide accidentally deployed during a Delta Airlines flight from John F. Kennedy Airport to Los Angeles International Airport.
The plane was diverted to Salt Lake City, though Delta Airlines has said that the diversion was not caused by the emergency slide deploying.
Delta Airlines has said that the flight, which had 168 people on board, was diverted due to a maintenance issue.
A member of the plane's crew was taken to hospital for evaluation, and was later discharged. Passengers subsequently completed their journey on a separate flight.
UNILAD has reached out to the American Airlines Group for comment.
Rhiannon Ingle