Wales Women Draw 1-1 in Montenegro After Plane Struck by Lightning and Travel Chaos

Wales women's national football team charter plane was struck by lightning while flying to Montenegro last week, forcing a diversion to Brindisi, Italy, before the side reached Podgorica and drew 1-1 with the hosts last Friday. The aircraft spent roughly an hour circling over Montenegro in search of a landing window amid electrical storms across the Balkans.

The pilot later confirmed to Football Association of Wales staff that lightning had hit the plane.

Players and staff remained on board for more than three hours before the decision was taken in the early hours of last Thursday to spend the night in Italy. Rhian Wilkinson and some backroom staff slept in an airport waiting area while the rest of the squad secured hotel rooms. The team finally arrived in Montenegro on Thursday evening, 23 hours before kick-off.

" "Have I ever been on a plane struck by lightning? I have not," she said. " Wales are unbeaten in their past seven matches. They opened the qualifying campaign with a 2-2 draw against the Czech Republic after Elise Hughes scored a late equaliser.

Wales and the Czech Republic are level on points after five group games, each with three wins and two draws. A Czech win in Cardiff would place them top of Group B1; a draw would also suffice for the visitors on goal difference. Carrie Jones and Lily Woodham are both due to earn their 50th caps when the sides meet at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday at 18:00 BST.

Hayley Ladd is the only unavailable player, omitted through injury. "This is a huge game and I think it's a challenge against a team that is in almost every single category equal to us," Wilkinson said. The match will be shown live on BBC Two Wales and iPlayer from 17:45 BST.