Loud Bang, Blinding Flash: Lightning Strikes Plane Before Landing In Chile, Passengers Scream In Fear (WATCH)
Synopsis
A terrifying moment unfolded aboard a LATAM Airlines flight in Chile when lightning struck the aircraft just minutes before landing, leaving passengers startled.
A terrifying moment unfolded aboard a LATAM Airlines flight in Chile when lightning struck the aircraft just minutes before landing, leaving passengers startled by a deafening bang and a sudden flash that illuminated the cabin. Despite the frightening encounter, the plane landed safely, and no injuries were reported, according to local media reports.
The incident occurred on a flight travelling from Antofagasta to Santiago, where a passenger captured the dramatic moment on camera. The video, which later went viral on social media, shows the sudden flash as lightning hit the aircraft, triggering panic among passengers. Some could be heard screaming as the loud bang echoed through the cabin.
⚡✈️ UN RAYO IMPACTÓ A UN AVIÓN DE LATAM EN PLENO VUELO: NO HUBO HERIDOS
Un impactante video registró el momento en que un rayo alcanzó a un avión de LATAM Airlines que viajaba desde Antofagasta hacia Santiago de Chile este martes, en medio de una fuerte tormenta eléctrica.
La descarga provocó un estruendo y un destello que iluminó el interior de la aeronave, lo que generó temor entre los pasajeros. El episodio ocurrió minutos antes del aterrizaje en la capital chilena y rápidamente se viralizó en las redes sociales.
Pese al susto, no hubo personas lesionadas y el avión aterrizó con normalidad en el Aeropuerto Arturo Merino Benítez.
Desde LATAM explicaron que se trata de un fenómeno meteorológico para el que las aeronaves están diseñadas y certificadas. Además, cuentan con sistemas que permiten disipar las descargas eléctricas de manera segura.
📹 El momento quedó registrado por uno de los pasajeros.
— Hechos y Derecho (@Hechosanderecho) October 21, 2026
According to local reports, the lightning strike occurred just minutes before the aircraft was due to land at Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benitez Airport. The incident coincided with a major weather system that brought heavy rainfall and thunderstorms to Chile’s Metropolitan Region.
Following the incident, LATAM Airlines Group issued a statement reassuring passengers that the lightning strike had not compromised their safety. The airline explained that commercial aircraft are specifically designed and certified to withstand such meteorological events.
“This is a meteorological phenomenon for which the aircraft are designed and certified,” the company said, adding that its aircraft were equipped with systems that allow electrical discharges to dissipate safely.
LATAM further confirmed that the aircraft completed its landing normally and that all passengers disembarked safely at Santiago airport.
Reaffirming its commitment to passenger safety, the airline stressed that the well-being of passengers and crew remained a non-negotiable priority across its operations.