7 hospitalized after Lufthansa flight makes emergency landing at DC airport after lighting struck

Seven were hospitalized after a Lufthansa Airlines flight from Austin to Frankfurt made an emergency landing in Washington DC following being struck by lightning and plummeting 1,000 feet while the no-seatbelt sign was turned off. 

Terrified passengers were surrounded by a ‘lot of broken glass’ and left screaming in terror after Lufthansa Flight 469 hit a traumatic wave of turbulence at 37,000 feet on Wednesday while flying over Tennessee. 

The flight landed at Washington-Dulles International Airport around 9pm, just three hours into the 10.5-hour flight to Germany. Seven passengers were taken to the hospital with unknown injuries. 

One man, who claimed his wife was on the flight, said the ‘people who didn’t have the seat belts fastened got hurt mostly cause it came as surprise’ after the plane was struck by lightning. 

A photo the man’s wife sent him shows food trays, and containers, silverware, and pamphlets were scattered among the aisle after landing. 

Terrified passengers were surrounded by a ‘lot of broken glass’ and left screaming in terror after Lufthansa Flight 469 hit a traumatic wave of turbulence at 37,000 feet on Wednesday while flying over Tennessee

The flight landed at Washington-Dulles International Airport around 9pm, just three hours into 10.5-hour flight from Austin to Germany. Seven passengers were taken to the hospital with unknown injuries

A passenger, who spoke anonymously with the Washington Post, said food ‘went flying into the air, hitting and even damaging the ceiling of the plane.’ 

The passenger sitting in the row in front of them had to be wheeled off the plane in a wheelchair after being ‘badly hurt’ and was heavily bleeding.  

Another person whose sister and brother-in-law were on the flight said it was ‘exceptionally scary, [with] lots of broken glass and screaming and multiple injuries,’ according to The Sun. 

The airline has offered passengers a link to request a refund after an angry passenger Ashley wrote on Twitter: ‘Many of our plans have been affected, our clothes are ruined, and we definitely expect far more than just a hotel tonight.’ 

‘We would like to get immediate help and compensation for the catastrophic forced landing incident involving LH469,’ she wrote. 

The airline is providing hotel accommodations for the passengers.  

A man who claimed his wife was on the flight said said the ‘people who didn’t have the seat belts fastened got hurt mostly cause it came as surprise’ after the plane was struck by lightning

Another passenger thanked the crew for taking care of them during the scary experience, writing: ‘@lufthansa thank you so much for your incredible care of Flt 469 tonight! My family will be eternally grateful for the skill of the pilot and co-pilot and care from the crew.’ 

The FAA is investigating the incident. 

Earlier this week, American Airlines Tiffany Michelle Miles, 36, of DC, had her criminal charges dropped after she allegedly tried to breach the cockpit when the crew did not serve her drink fast enough – forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing. 

Miles, 36, who was on the flight from Jacksonville, Florida, to Washington, DC prompted the airline to make an emergency landing in North Carolina after she reportedly became irritated when she couldn’t get her hands on an alcoholic beverage fast enough.

They landed at the DC airport three hours into the flight and the airline is providing hotel accommodations to the passengers 

She was arrested on Wednesday and initially facing a misdemeanor of airport obstruction – that carries a jail sentence of 20 years.

Miles was able to bond out of jail and on Friday learned from the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority Police Department the charge was dismissed.

She claims that she was going to the restroom – and not trying to storm the cockpit.

Miles said she was ‘relieved,’ but had to speak to her legal team. She added: ‘if no one is charging me now, then what is all the hoopla about?’