Lightning Strikes!!

First of all.. I have landed safely from the first leg of my journey. With a few hours layover here... I thought I would quickly share the excitement! It is 3:13am at home... and just the beginning of the morning here!

YES... as we are taking off from the Charlotte airport our airbus was struck by lightning!! RIGHT OUTSIDE MY WINDOW! AGGGGGGHHHH!!

I was staring out the window as we made our way through the storm clouds.. my mind on the last phone conversation before boarding, when all of a sudden... the brightest flash of light followed by a loud "pop" illuminated the end of the wing that held my fixed gaze! My heart STOPPED! As I looked around the cabin, there were not too many people even moved to some concern?!?!? Did I dream it? Did my nerves get the better of me and I just caught the stray flash of some other passengers camera??? WOW... what just happened? Did I just wet my pants for nothing? (Okay, not really... but good god man.. I swear I wasnt dreaming)

What had to have been 10 minutes later, the captain comes across the PA and gives a long message.. IN GERMAN! At this point, im beginning to think my imagination made up the whole event in an effort to make me think... I should have not gotten on the plane! Then it happened... the captain began speaking to the cabin in english...

Sure enough!!!!! The plane's wing tip had been struck by lightning! He stated .. "im sure many of you saw the brilliant flash of light and heard the loud pop, and some of you in the front cabin would have felt the shutter and vibration." I thought to myself... well this trip is over! Certainly we are headed to a nearby airport to perform some emergency landing because the plane has been fried by mother nature!!!! NOPE... the captain continues to tell us how this is quite common in weather like in which we departing! He continues to tell us the design of the plane and how the strike did absolutely nothing and the plane, its electrical equipment and its crew are in perfect condition. "So sit back and enjoy your flight"

Wow ... so my adventure starts with a bolt of lightning! Im going to sit here with my espresso, my laptop and enjoy life! Blackberry is not working (not a happy camper).. so looks like email and this blog may be it for me!

Follow my and comment... let me know what ya think!

Auf wiedersehen..... Hillard