Incident Overview
On February 17, 2010, at 1555 UTC, a Thompson Airways Boeing 757 experienced anomalies in both the pilot and first officer airspeed indicators during climbout from Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain. The incident occurred while the aircraft was flying through an area of turbulence and lightning activity; however, the airplane was not struck by lightning.
Return to Normal Operation
All airspeed indications returned to normal when the airplane exited the region of turbulence and lightning. The flight subsequently continued to its intended destination, London Gatwick Airport (LGW), where it landed without further incident.
Investigation
The United Kingdom Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is investigating this event, along with several similar events related to static buildup on airframes during certain atmospheric conditions. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has designated a U.S. Accredited Representative, as the state of manufacture of the airplane.
Contact Information
All inquiries should be directed to:
Air Accidents Investigation Branch Department of Transport Farnborough House Berkshire Copse Road Aldershot Hants GU11 2HH United Kingdom Website: http://www.aaib.gov.uk