What happened
On 10 October 2000, a Boeing 757-236, registration G-BIKL, was conducting a passenger flight approaching Runway 19R at Amsterdam/Schiphol Airport. During the approach, the aircraft was navigating through an area containing a line of cumulonimbus clouds. The commander was providing steering guidance to the first officer, who was acting as the handling pilot, to maneuver the aircraft between two decaying storm cells.
While at approximately 5,000 feet, the aircraft was struck by lightning just below the right forward windscreen. The first officer, who had his right arm resting on the cockpit coaming near the window, experienced a bright flash and a loud bang, describing a sensation similar to being kicked in the chest. Following the strike, the first officer experienced difficulty moving his right arm and subsequently transferred control of the aircraft to the commander.
The investigation
The investigation was initiated following an aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Medical examinations conducted after the aircraft landed revealed that the first officer had sustained a burn wound on his chest, which was consistent with an electrical discharge. While the first officer returned to flight duties after two weeks, it was noted that he later developed a medical condition that might be linked to this event.
Technical inspections of the Boeing 757-236 were performed to assess the impact of the strike. However, the examination of the airframe yielded no physical evidence of a lightning strike.