Mildura Independent

The plane was about 50 kilometres south of Mildura on Saturday afternoon when it was struck by lightning putting the lights off in the passenger cabin or a second or so.

A Mildura passenger on the plane told the Independent that when it was hit there was a thud and flash of light, the lights only went out for about one second and that was about it.

“No-one knew it been hit - it was only that the person in front of me happened to ask if we had got hit when walking past the pilot on the way out that I found out, the passenger Warren Monson said.

“All the pilot said was yes we got hit by lightning and if had not said that that I would not of known or thought about it at all.”
After the strike and because of bad weather behind him, the pilot is reported to have decided to continue his journey and land at Mildura airport.

The plane is reported to have scorch marks visible on its outside but the exact damage from the strike is unknown at this stage.

The plane is now locked away out of sight in a hangar and Virgin Blue refused to allow WIN Television to photograph it or give any details about the incident.

It is believed that engineers and maintenance crew will fly to Mildura later this week and the first task will be to replace the engine.

Sources indicate that the replacement engine has been flown to Australia from the USA.

Virgin is hopeful of getting the plane in the air later this week and back to Melbourne where it will be fully repaired.

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