Hmm, if I were on one of those flights, I'd go buy a lottery ticket right away!

So exactly how common is it for lightning to strike two different planes in the same morning? Does it matter where on the plane it struck? Does the flight crew know? Do passengers feel anything or are aware at the moment of the strike? Are there ways to avoid it or detect it ahead of time? Has lightning, by itself, taken down a plane before? Can it?

From Associated Press:

SHANNON, Ireland - Two Aer Lingus flights from the United States were struck by lightning while landing Saturday at Shannon Airport in western Ireland, the airline said.

No one was injured on the flights, but the lightning slightly damaged the noses of both planes, preventing them from flying on to Dublin, the Irish capital, Aer Lingus said.

One flight from Boston landed at Shannon Airport at 5:50 a.m., while the other one from New York landed at 8 a.m. Passengers bound for the Irish capital were taken there aboard another plane, the airline said.

Return flights to the United States also were delayed as engineers examined both aircraft before returning them to service, Aer Lingus said.

The airline said it was unusual for two planes to be hit by lightning at Shannon Airport on the same morning.

The metal skin of the aircraft will sheild the occupants inside(Faraday's law comes in handy here). Most damage is done at the extremities and antenna's, electronics if it was a direct hit. I've seen a King-Air that got hit, it smoked the tail pretty good and came out around the strakes at the rear of the fuselage.

As far as knowing it hit you, I have no idea, but I'd imagine it'd be loud!!!

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!

One word: updraft.

Too bad his chute opened or he could have really stumped the statisticians.

Exactly. Convection, baby! He's lucky he made it down, without being recycled in the storm until he was a hypoxic popsicle.

Lightning could strike 10 airplanes in one morning if 10 airplanes flew through thunderstorms...