Delta #DL112 to Rome returned to Boston following a lightning strike shortly after departure

A Delta Air Lines flight departing from Boston to Rome on August 4, 2024, experienced a lightning strike shortly after takeoff. The Airbus A330-200, which climbed to 16,000 feet, requested a return to Boston Logan International Airport approximately an hour and a half after departure. The decision to turn back was made as a precautionary measure, and the aircraft safely landed on the same runway it had taken off from. The flight was subsequently canceled, and the seven-year-old plane is currently undergoing maintenance in Boston. In the transportation field, the response to this incident underscores the importance of safety protocols in aviation. Lightning strikes are common during thunderstorms and generally, modern aircraft are built to withstand such phenomena. However, crew decisions to prioritize passenger safety, even in seemingly non-threatening situations, reflect a major aspect of risk management in airline operations. The incident highlights the effectiveness of aviation safety culture, which emphasizes the need for vigilance and precautionary measures to protect passengers, even at the cost of inconvenience.