Boeing 767-333 Incident Involving Turbulence and Lightning Damage Near Junín, Argentina (C-FPIJ)

Event Overview and Investigation Scope On 24 November 2024, a Boeing 767-333 with registration C-FPIJ was involved in an incident classified as windshear or thunderstorm. The event occurred during descent south of Junín, in the Buenos Aires Province of Argentina, at 21:40 UTC. The investigation was conducted as a desk investigation by the Junta de Seguridad en el Transporte (JST), Argentina's transport safety board. ## Flight Details and Operational Context The aircraft departed Santiago de Chile's Arturo Benítez International Airport (SCEL) at 20:00 UTC on 24 November 2024, bound for Buenos Aires' Ministro Pistarini International Airport (SAEZ). The flight was a regular commercial cargo operation under callsign CJT3225. The aircraft was cruising at flight level 350 before initiating descent within the Ezeiza Flight Information Region. ## Weather Conditions and In-Flight Events According to data from the aircraft operator and Argentina's National Meteorological Service (SMN), the aircraft transited through or near a convective cell in a collapsing phase between 28,000 and 25,000 feet. The crew reported moderate-to-severe turbulence and icing, along with hail and lightning. The aircraft's weather radar system malfunctioned, preventing the crew from obtaining meteorological representations. During descent, the crew disconnected the autopilot and continued flying manually. ## Damage Assessment and Corrective Actions After landing at 21:40 UTC and shutting down the engines, ground personnel reported visible damage. The operator's maintenance team identified the following: - Radome damage from lightning impact - Missing static discharger wick on the upper vertical stabilizer - Missing landing gear locking pins - Inoperative upper beacon light lens - Inoperative lower beacon light lens - Broken left wing anti-collision (strobe) light lens - Damage to left engine acoustic coverings - Hole in the forward section of the left wing trailing-edge flap #1 fairing - Damage to the forward section of the left wing trailing-edge flap #2 fairing - Hole in the left wing lower surface covering panel - Hole in the forward section of the right wing trailing-edge flap fairing Corrective actions included replacement of the radome, static discharger wick, light lenses, and pins, along with temporary field repairs. Repair time limits were established, and the aircraft was released to service. ## Subsequent Operations On 30 November 2024 at 12:30 UTC, the aircraft departed for Hamilton International Airport in Canada on flight CJT9002, arriving without incident.