A JetBlue Airways flight traveling between Westchester and Orlando was forced to divert to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on Tuesday after a lightning strike fried the weather radar, according to air traffic control (ATC) recordings. The plane safely landed at JFK minutes after departure and has since returned to service.

JetBlue flight 195 is a daily service from Westchester County Airport (HPN) to Orlando International Airport (MCO). It had been in the air just minutes before the lightning struck the airplane. While it is common for lightning strikes to hit aircraft, it is not always common that the force is enough to fry onboard electronics.

No Passengers Or Crew Were Injured Following The Strike

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The flight was expected to depart from HPN at around 9:35 PM; however, it was delayed by the inbound aircraft, resulting in it only becoming airborne just after midnight. According to flight data, the plane pushed back from the gate at 12:06 AM and remained airborne for minutes before it was struck.

News 12 Westchester obtained a cockpit recording in which one of the pilots could be heard saying the aircraft had “just got struck by lightning.” The pilot also explained that the strike “fried” the aircraft’s weather radar systems and that the flight was unable to continue to Orlando. Passengers were reportedly advised that the plane would divert to JFK for everyone’s safety.

The plane successfully touched down at JFK 44 minutes after departure, and passengers disembarked at around 12:50 AM. A replacement flight was scheduled for travelers the next day from JFK at 5:43 AM and arrived in Orlando later that morning, resulting in quite an overnight ordeal for those involved.

About The Airframe: N506JB

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A 26.2-year-old A320-200 was involved in the incident, bearing registration N506JB (pictured). According to ch-aviation, the plane has been operating for JetBlue for almost three decades and is named Wild Blue Yonder. The plane was first delivered to JetBlue in June 2000 and is currently configured for 150 passengers in an all-economy-class layout.

The plane, fleet number 506, has the Spotlight livery on its exterior, applied in September 2024. The plane is powered by two IAE V2527-A5 engines.

JetBlue operates 10 of these aircraft in the same configuration to carry 150 passengers, while more than 100 other A320-200s are in a higher-density configuration with a total capacity of 162 passengers. The smaller configuration aircraft are gradually being retired and replaced with more modern aircraft.

What Happens When An Aircraft Is Struck By Lightining?

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If an aircraft is struck by lightning, the electric current can usually travel harmlessly along the aircraft’s conductive exterior surfaces and exit through the plane’s tail or wingtips. Passengers usually see only a bright flash as the strike occurs, followed by a loud bang. The aircraft can act as a protective shield, known as a Faraday cage, keeping everyone and everything inside the aircraft out of harm’s way.

The fuselage of an aircraft is made of conductive materials, such as aluminum, which can direct the electricity from a strike to travel outside the cabin rather than through it. Newer airplanes have been made from composite materials that incorporate copper and replicate this effect.

Looking at the flight data for N506JB, the plane remained out of service on Tuesday while repairs were made to the weather system damaged in this incident. It then returned to regular service on Wednesday, operating services to Orlando, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport(DCA), and eventually back to Westchester.