Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], March 19 : An Akasa Air flight, operating from Phuket to Bengaluru on Wednesday, was diverted to Chennai due to adverse weather conditions, during which the aircraft experienced a lightning strike.
The airline said in a statement that passengers were provided with hotel accommodation or surface transport options to continue their journey, in an effort to minimise inconvenience.
"As a precaution, the aircraft is undergoing standard engineering checks. At Akasa Air, the safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority," the statement said.
The Akasa Air flight QP 624 landed safely in Chennai.
The statement said that lightning strikes are a known and manageable occurrence in aviation, and aircraft are designed and certified to safely withstand them.
"Our teams are also well-trained to handle such situations with the highest standards of safety. Our pilots and crew handled the situation in accordance with established safety protocols," it said.