A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Rome, Italy, from Boston, Massachusetts, on Sunday was struck by mid-air lightning, according to the airline and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The flight was diverted back to Boston Logan International Airport “out of an abundance of caution” after the crew reported a lighting strike after takeoff, according to a statement from Delta and the FAA.
The plane landed back in Boston at 7:20 p.m. ET “safely and without further incident,” the airline said.
The commercial passenger aircraft was an Airbus A330, according to the FAA.
Delta apologized to travelers for the delay and said it is “working to get our customers to their final destination as quickly as possible.”
The FAA said it would investigate, noting that regulations require commercial aircraft to be designed to withstand lightning strikes.