Originally Posted by Zeke

For the most part, metal planes suffer small holes/slight electrical problems/skin scorching when struck by lightning. Composite aircraft have much larger issues with lightning strikes. There are many documented cases of composite aircraft and composite parts of metal aircraft suffering major damage after a strike. My favorite story about one of those was a fellow who was flying a glider (why he was anywhere close to a thunderstorm in a glider is anyone's guess) that was hit. The aircraft disintegrated around him, but he was able to open his parachute and return to earth. Imagine being involved in two of the most rare events on the planet- struck by lightning and a plane crash!