Australian comedian and TV host Julia Morris has shared details of a frightening mid-air incident where her Qantas flight was struck by lightning during take-off, an event she described as a 'massive flash and bang' occurring just two seats away from her.
A Terrifying Moment in the Sky
The incident occurred on Monday aboard Qantas flight QF879 travelling from the Gold Coast to Melbourne. Morris took to Instagram to recount the harrowing experience, praising the Qantas crew for their professionalism in keeping passengers informed and assured of their safety during the unsettling event.
'It struck two seats away from me… a massive flash and bang,' Morris wrote. Despite the shock, she maintained her signature humour, adding, 'Ok. I am off to buy a lottery ticket.'
Qantas Responds to the Incident
Confirming the event, a Qantas spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au that the aircraft continued its journey normally to Melbourne. The flight landed safely at its destination following the lightning strike during take-off.
'While aircraft are designed to withstand and fly safely when struck by lightning, we know this may have been unsettling for passengers onboard,' the spokesperson stated. As a standard safety procedure, the aircraft was taken out of service for inspection. Qantas engineers are inspecting the aircraft, which is expected to return to service on Wednesday.
Passenger Reactions and Shared Stories
Morris revealed this was her first lightning strike experience in 40 years of flying, prompting her to ask her followers if they had encountered similar situations. Her post quickly ignited a thread of shared experiences in the comments section.
One follower shared a story about travelling with a six-week-old baby after a sister's funeral when their flight was struck by lightning on the tarmac. Another recalled a strike about 20 years ago on descent into Melbourne, noting the plane landed without incident.
Several commenters pointed out that lightning strikes on aircraft are more common than many passengers realise, with one user explaining that planes must be inspected after such an event to check for any electrical damage.
The beloved comedian's famous friends also expressed their shock. Comedian Celeste Barber commented 'HOLY S***!', while reality TV star Lucinda Light added 'Glad you're safe, you icon. Bit scary.' British actress Dawn French responded with a string of shocked emojis.
Alongside her account, Morris shared photos of dramatic lightning streaks in the sky that she had taken earlier in the week, adding to the visual narrative of the intense weather event.
