I was on a plane that was hit by lightning. Told a co-worker that I was disappointed the captain didn’t get on the horn and say something. Co-worker made a point that a lighting strike may have set off all kinds of alarms and you wouldn’t want to hear that blaring in the background.
We were between Honolulu and Anchorage, and “Pete’s Dragon” opening music was starting. Then POW! Huge bang and the plane (DC10) shuddered, and began to descend quickly. Total silence. Everyone had a terrified look on their faces.
We asked the attendants what that bang was. “I didn’t hear anything.” 🙄
Then the plane evened out and made a 180 turn. Nobody told us ANYTHING for about a half hour. That was the worst part — not having information. We assumed we’d be in the drink soon.
We had lost an engine and had to return to HI because were about five minutes short of the half-way point. I guess that was policy then (the ‘80s) — to go to the closest airport.