A flight from Heathrow to the US was turned around on Wednesday after reportedly being hit by lightning.
American Airlines flight AA735, which was due to fly to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, returned to London just 30 minutes into its journey.
The flight took off on schedule at 3.05pm, but the crew squawked the code 7700, the universal transponder code used by pilots to declare a general emergency, while over Manchester airspace at around 3.35pm.
The plane then immediately began a sharp turn back toward London, with air traffic control clearing the aircraft for a priority return.
The plane touched back down at Heathrow at 4.35pm, where Airport Rescue and fire crews inspected the aircraft on the runway.
The plane, a 777-300ER, cannot return to service until post-strike checks are completed - potentially disrupting future flights with one plane effectively out of service.
The Standard has approached American Airlines for comment.
Lightning caused further issues at Manchester Airport on Wednesday.
WATCH: American Airlines B777-300ER flight AA735 from London Heathrow to Charlotte returned to LHR after squawking emergency code 7700 about an hour into the flight.
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) June 10, 2026
📹: FlightFocus365 pic.twitter.com/5wuxAjhN0L
A Jet2 flight had to make an emergency diversion to Manchester after it was struck by lightning as it took off from Leeds Bradford Airport, while a Pegasus Airline flight from Manchester Airport to Istanbul was forced to return to the airport after the aircraft was struck during take off.
Another plane arriving from Santorini was hit as it arrived, with officials saying the aircraft landed safely.
Thunder and lightning also struck the capital on Wednesday, with a deluge of rain and loud storms across London during the evening rush hour.
England’s World Cup warm up match against Costa Rica in Orlando was also delayed by an hour due to storms in the area.
Lightning strikes on commercial aircraft are not rare, and modern planes are designed to conduct electrical charge safely, with the vast majority of strikes resulting in no structural damage.
Full maintenance inspections are mandated by the FAA and the UK Civil Aviation Authority before the aircraft is allowed to fly again.
The incident comes just weeks after another American Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing during a transatlantic crossing.
In May, AA784 diverted to JFK after the first officer’s cockpit windshield shattered, delivering passengers to Munich more than seven hours late.
