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American Airlines Flight 735 Returns to Heathrow After Lightning Strike
The flight from London to Charlotte aborted after lightning struck the aircraft. It completed the route two days later following inspection and cancellation.
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M. local time on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, bound for Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
And returned to London Heathrow, landing just over an hour after takeoff. The aircraft was struck by lightning during the flight. Pilots transmitted a “code 7700” general emergency transponder signal after the lightning strike.
Fire and rescue personnel met the aircraft on the runway and inspected it after landing. The aircraft was grounded following the inspection. American Airlines has not publicly commented on the extent of any damage to the aircraft.
Flight 735 was cancelled on Thursday, June 11, 2026. The flight completed the transatlantic route on Friday, June 12, 2026, taking nearly nine hours. The National Weather Service states that a suspected lightning strike triggers a mandatory inspection for damage.
The National Weather Service states that lightning-strike inspections can delay flights and be expensive. The Washington Times reported the sequence of events based on data from FlightAware and the London Evening Standard.
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