[Young Werther]

An airplane by definition,when airborne, is not grounded! An electrical discharge from the earth to the sky or vice versa can transit an aircraft but aircraft manufacturer's have put devices into place to deal with the electricity that flows.

TWA flight 800 was struck by lightning while on approach to Athens and nothing happened but "supposedly" an elctrical spark in the center fuel tank brought the B-747 down!! Go Figger!

[El Gato]

An electrical discharge from the earth to the sky or vice versa can transit an aircraft but aircraft manufacturer's have put devices into place to deal with the electricity that flows.

Lightening also discharges from cloud to cloud. An aircraft need only be at a different potential, that is voltage, to be struck. They aren't as vulnerable as say houses, but they can be hit, and if they are, their systems are often disrupted.