Lightning can strike a plane when travelling through or near a storm, however, you'll still remain safe when in the air. The aircraft are designed to withstand lightning strikes and the electric current travels alongside the aluminium frame.

Yes, it is extremely safe to be inside an airplane during a lightning storm. Modern commercial aircraft are engineered to act as a Faraday cage; when lightning strikes, the electrical discharge travels along the exterior aluminum or composite skin of the fuselage and exits through the wingtips or tail, leaving the passengers and sensitive electronic systems inside completely unharmed. Statistically, every commercial airliner is struck by lightning about once a year (or every 1,000 flying hours). While you might hear a loud "bang" or see a bright flash that can be startling, it is rarely a safety concern. Pilots use high-tech weather radar to avoid the most severe cells of a storm, primarily to avoid the extreme turbulence associated with them, rather than the lightning itself. In 2026, aircraft also feature "static wicks"—small wires on the trailing edges of the wings—that help dissipate static electricity back into the atmosphere, ensuring that nature's electric displays remain nothing more than a spectacular show for those watching from a safe, pressurized cabin.