London-Bound United Airlines B767-300 Diverts to Boston After Lightning Strike
A United Airlines Boeing 767-300 outbound from Newark Liberty Airport to London diverted to Boston after a lightning strike on 31 December 2024.
United Airlines flight UA16, operated by a Boeing 767-300, had conducted a departure from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
United Airlines UA16 Newark-London
The flight was to be a scheduled service to London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Following departure, the flight had set course normally and climbed to cruising level on the outbound track.
According to a subsequent FAA report, flight crew reported sustaining a lightning strike as the aircraft passed across the Gulf of Maine. As a result, the flight was aborted and the United Airlines flight crew elected to make a diversion to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
A formal emergency was not declared and the backtrack and diversion was conducted under normal operating procedures.
The aircraft landed at the diversion airport without incident, and was met by emergency crews as a precaution. There were no injuries reported amongst the passengers and crew as a result of the in-flight event.
Flight Details
Flight data shows that United Airlines flight UA16 had made an on-time departure out of Newark Liberty International Airport at 2101 local time on 31 December.
The flight then set course normally, and had climbed to flight level FL330. The turnaround was initiated from cruising flight over the Gulf of Maine approaching Nova Scotia. A direct return track to Boston Logan International Airport was then carried out.
The aircraft conducting the UA16 service to London Heathrow Airport was a Boeing 767-300, registered N657UA. This is a 31.9 year old wide-body aircraft belonging to the carrier United Airlines. It has been in operational service with the airline since its initial delivery from the factory in March 1993.
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