Flight forced to return to Manchester Airport after being 'struck by lightning'

A flight from Manchester was forced to return to the airport on Thursday evening after being struck by lightning, the M.E.N understands.

The Logan Air flight LM26, to Aberdeen, was travelling from Manchester Airport at around 4.30pm when it had to suddenly turn around 30 minutes into the journey.

The Manchester Evening News understands the aircraft was struck by lightning, which caused the windshield to crack. It is thought nobody was injured and the flight landed safely.

READ MORE Heavy rain hits Manchester with 'act now' flood warnings in place ahead of severe Met Office alert

Trackers, according to FlightRadar24, show the plane flying northwards before looping in the skies above Skipton and returning back to its departure point at around 5pm.

The return to Manchester Airport came roughly 29 minutes after take off. Earlier on Thursday, Loganair posted about potential disruption due to the weather on X.

The airline announced that passengers taking flights from airports affected by the bad weather would have the opportunity to 'adjust travel plans without charge'.

They said: "In view of the yellow weather warning forecast for the 5th, 6th and 7th December across parts of the UK and Isle of Man; we are offering customers that may be affected the opportunity to adjust travel plans without charge."

Airports affected on December 5 and 6, the airline said, include those on the Isle of Man, Liverpool, Manchester, City of Derry Airport, Campbeltown, Islay and Tiree. On December 7, they include Southampton, London Heathrow, Birmingham, Isle of Man, Manchester, Islay, City of Derry Airport and Newcastle.

It comes after the region was battered by strong winds and heavy rain on Thursday, amid a yellow weather alert from the Met