Lightning Strike Forces Wizz Air Flight to Divert from Košice to Bratislava

A Wizz Air flight was forced to abort its landing in Košice and return to Bratislava after being struck by lightning. Passengers described hearing a loud bang and smelling burning as the aircraft prepared to land in Slovakia's second-largest city. The English-speaking pilot announced the diversion back to Bratislava, where passengers learned their plane had been hit by lightning. The incident occurred on a domestic route between Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, and Košice, the country's eastern hub. Lightning strikes on aircraft, while dramatic for passengers, are relatively common and planes are designed to handle such incidents safely through built-in protection systems.