Delta flight turns around over Atlantic, returns to Boston following lightning strike: FAA

A Delta plane flying over the Atlantic Ocean was forced to quickly turn around and retreat to Boston following a lightning strike Sunday, the airline and the FAA said.

Delta Flight 112 was headed to Rome from Logan International Airport on Sunday evening when the flight crew reported a lightning strike following departure, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The aircraft turned around after it was already passing over the Atlantic during what was supposed to be a roughly seven-hour flight to the Italian capital, according to Flightradar24.

The plane headed back to Logan Airport “out of an abundance of caution after encountering lighting,” a Delta spokesperson said in an email.

When the Airbus A330 landed around 7:20 p.m., fire trucks could be seen around the plane on the tarmac, WCVB reported.

Boston EMS said no passengers or crew required medical help, the station reported.

“The flight landed safely and without further incident,” the Delta spokesperson said.

“We are working to get our customers to their final destination as quickly as possible, and we apologize for the delay in their travel. The safety of our customers and people remains Delta’s most important priority.”

The FAA said it was investigating the incident, though it stressed the federal agency’s “regulations require that commercial aircraft be designed to withstand lightning strikes.”