A passenger captured the terrifying moment their plane was struck by lightning mid-flight.
Footage filmed from an aisle seat shows a blinding flash illuminating the cabin, accompanied by a loud bang.
Passengers can be heard gasping in fright before the cabin quickly fills with nervous laughter.
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The scare happened on a flight over Chile on Tuesday (20 October), amid a major weather front that brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to the area.
Despite the lightning strike, the plane landed safely at Santiago International Airport minutes later, as reported by Need To Know.
LATAM later confirmed: “Flight LA341, operating the Antofagasta–Santiago route, was struck by lightning during its operation on Tuesday.”
The airline explained: “This is a weather phenomenon for which aircraft are designed and certified, and they have systems that allow this type of discharge to be safely dissipated.
“The aircraft landed normally at Santiago Airport and all passengers disembarked safely.”
It added: “The safety of its passengers and crew is a non-negotiable value in all its operations.”
Aviation experts say lightning strikes are relatively common, with commercial planes built to withstand them.
An aircraft’s metal fuselage directs the electrical current along its exterior rather than through the cabin, while special devices on the wings and tail help discharge electricity safely.
On average, each commercial aircraft is struck by lightning around once a year.
Planes are inspected afterwards to check for damage to their structure or electronic systems.
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