When Lightning Strikes Aircraft

After the crash of Air France Flight 447 in 2009, widespread debate appeared on the Internet about whether a lightning strike could have brought the plane down. Just how dangerous is lightning to an aircraft in flight? In this podcast, aviation safety expert John Cox and veteran airline pilot Martin Alder weigh in. Podcast produced by David Levin. Interviews by Darlow Smithson productions. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and public television viewers. Hear more audio stories at pbs.org/nova