Lightning Strike at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport Jolts Workers, Takes Plane Out of Service

June 20, 2014
The weather caused 41 departure delays and 11 arrival delays at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Miami International Airport also reported delays.

June 20--A lightning strike during an afternoon downpour Thursday jolted two workers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and took a Delta Airlines plane out of service.

The lightning strike in a nearby field affected the two workers in the Delta concourse area, said Mike Jachles, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue spokesman.

The two were outside, part of a cleaning crew working on a Boeing 757 when the lightning hit around 5 p.m.

One worker complained of a headache and was taken to Broward Health Medical Center. The second worker was treated at the scene.

No obvious damage was reported to the plane, but it was to be evaluated, said Gregory Meyer, spokesman for the Broward County Aviation Department.

"If we find no damage and everything is fine, the plane will fly tonight," he said.

The lightning strike came as a line of thunderstorms moved through South Florida on Thursday afternoon.

The weather caused 41 departure delays and 11 arrival delays at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Miami International Airport also reported delays.

The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory until 6:45 Thursday for Northeast Miami-Dade extending from Interstate 75 to the coast.

Wet weather is expected for Friday with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms, according to the weather service.

Lightning may have caused a brush fire in unincorporated Broward on U.S, 27, north of Interstate 75. The Department of Forestry said at least 30 acres were burning late Thursday.

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