A lightning strike forced a plane originating from Comox to perform an emergency landing in Vancouver on Sept. 18.

Shortly before 7:30 p.m. Monday night, Pacific Coastal Airlines flight 713 was hit by lightning, about 20 minutes outside of Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Twenty-seven passengers and three crew members were aboard the flight, which departed from Comox Valley Airport (YQQ) at 7:07 p.m.

B次元官网网址淎n aircraft declared emergency landing. Has landed safely. No impact to airport operations,B次元官网网址� tweeted Vancouver Airport following the incident.

An aircraft declared emergency landing. Has landed safely. No impact to airport operations.

B次元官网网址� Vancouver Airport (@yvrairport)

Pacific Coastal Airlines spokesperson Kevin Boothroyd said despite an emergency being declared, the pilots were still able to successfully land the plane. (By declaring an emergency, the plane was able to get priority landing from air traffic control).

B次元官网网址淭he pilots are well trained and B次元官网网址� following all their predetermined operational procedures B次元官网网址� did exactly the right thing,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he plane did successfully land at YVR and all the passengers were de-planed.B次元官网网址�

There were no injuries reported to passengers. YVR was the planeB次元官网网址檚 final destination.

Boothroyd said lightning strikes to aircraft, while not common, do happen from time to time.

B次元官网网址淎ll aircrafts are designed with engineering to mitigate strikes from lightning and they do happen,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚n this case the plane took a pretty good hit, but it operated as it should.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淎t all times, the pilots were in full control of the aircraft.B次元官网网址�

YQQ chief executive officer Fred Bigelow, who is also a pilot, said his own flights were hit by lightning a few times.

B次元官网网址淚t catches your attention, usually thereB次元官网网址檚 a flash sometimes B次元官网网址� inside the aircraft,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淯sually thereB次元官网网址檚 a tiny little burn-mark where it goes in and a tiny little burn-mark where it goes out.B次元官网网址�

He said though it can sound dramatic, lightning strikes are usually not serious.

B次元官网网址淭he way an aircraft is grounded and the way electricity flows through it and enters and exits an aircraft, other than seeing the flash and feeling a knock, itB次元官网网址檚 not such a big deal for the occupants of the aircraft.B次元官网网址�

The aircraft that was hit is an Saab 340 twin-turboprop. It is 20 metres long with a 21-metre wingspan and a top speed of 463 km/h.