US Airways Flight Struck by Lightning Lands Safely

US Airways Express Flight 4507 from Philadelphia to New Haven was re-routed to Long Island Islip MacArthur Airport this afternoon after it was struck by lightning. The plane landed safely and no one on board was injured.

According to Andrew Christie, a spokesperson for Piedmont Airlines, a subsidiary of US Airways that operates the Express flights, the pilots were exercising caution and made the decision to land at Long Island MacArthur after the lightning strike.

“The flight landed without incident,” said Christie.

Catherine Green, a spokesperson at , said emergency personnel were at the ready as the flight landed at 3:13 p.m. Friday afternoon. The flight had 32 passengers and a crew of three.

Passengers on the flight that spoke with Patch said the flight attendant and pilots kept everyone calm.

One passenger traveling from Houston to visit her daughter in New Haven said she heard a loud bang and then saw a flash.

“I was sitting near the back of the plane and could smell smoke,” said the woman named Joanne, who declined to give her last name. “The captain made an announcement and let everyone know what happened.”

Other passengers said they were relieved to learn they would reach their final destination by bus and not have to board another flight to New Haven.