7 hospitalized after Lufthansa flight made emergency landing at DC airport after lightning struck

Seven were hospitalized after a Lufthansa Airlines flight from Austin to Frankfurt made an emergency landing in Washington DC after being struck by lightning and plummeting 1,000 feet while the no seat belt sign was turned off.

Terrified passengers were surrounded by “a pile of broken glass” and screamed in terror after Lufthansa Flight 469 struck a traumatic wave of turbulence at 37,000 feet on Wednesday while flying over Tennessee.

The flight landed at Washington-Dulles International Airport around 9:00 p.m., just three hours after the 10.5-hour flight to Germany. Seven passengers were taken to the hospital with unknown injuries.

A man, who claimed his wife was on the flight, said “people who were not wearing their seatbelts were injured mainly because it was a surprise” after the plane was struck by lightning.

A photo sent to him by the man’s wife shows food trays, containers, cutlery and brochures strewn across the aisle after landing.

The flight touched down at Washington-Dulles International Airport around 9 p.m., just three hours into a 10.5-hour flight from Austin to Germany. Seven passengers were taken to hospital with unknown injuries.

A passenger, who spoke anonymously with the Washington Posthe said the food “went flying through the air, hitting and even damaging the roof of the plane.”

The passenger sitting in the row in front of them had to be taken off the plane in a wheelchair after being “severely injured” and was bleeding heavily.

Another person whose sister and brother-in-law were on the flight said it was “exceptionally terrifying, [with] lots of broken glass and screams and multiple injuries’, according to Sun.

The airline offered passengers a link to request a refund after angry passenger Ashley wrote on Twitter: “Many of our plans have been affected, our clothes are ruined and we are definitely expecting much more than a hotel tonight.” .

“We would like immediate help and compensation for the catastrophic crash landing incident involving LH469,” he wrote.

The airline is providing hotel accommodation for the passengers.

A man who claimed his wife was on the flight said “people who were not wearing their seatbelts were injured mainly because it was a surprise” after the plane was struck by lightning.

Another passenger thanked the crew for taking care of them through the terrifying experience, writing: ‘@lufthansa thank you so much for your amazing care of Flt 469 tonight! My family will be forever grateful for the skill of the pilot and co-pilot and the care of the crew.’

The FAA is investigating the incident.

Earlier this week, criminal charges were dropped for American Airlines Tiffany Michelle Miles, 36, of DC, after she allegedly attempted to breach the cabin when the crew did not serve her drink quickly enough, forcing the pilot to to make an emergency landing.

Miles, 36, who was on the flight from Jacksonville, Florida, to Washington, DC, goaded the airline into making an emergency landing in North Carolina after he reportedly became irritated when he couldn’t get a ticket. alcoholic drink fast enough.

They landed at the DC airport three hours after the flight and the airline is providing hotel accommodations for the passengers.

She was arrested Wednesday and was initially facing misdemeanor obstruction of the airport, which carries a 20-year jail sentence.

Miles was able to get out of jail on bond and learned Friday from the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority Police Department that the charge was dismissed.

She claims she was going to the bathroom and not trying to raid the cabin.

Miles said she was “relieved” but needed to speak to her legal team. She added: ‘if no one is charging me now, then what’s all the fuss about?’