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Lightning strikes not once, not twice, but 11 times at Salt Lake City airport

Ten Delta flights and one United Airlines flight were struck at Salt Lake City International Airport.

By Evan Bleier
A storm with lightning (File/UPI/Miguel Angel Bustos)
A storm with lightning (File/UPI/Miguel Angel Bustos) | License Photo

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SALT LAKE CITY, May 9 (UPI) -- Lightning struck 11 times at Salt Lake City International Airport on Wednesday leading to the cancellations of several flights.

Eleven inbound planes were struck and maintenance teams are working to determine the exact extent of the damage. One United Airlines flight was hit and the rest of the planes were all arriving Delta flights.

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"I think its reassuring to know that the airlines do look at the aircraft after a mention is made that there could have been a lightning strike and that they can withstand it," Salt Lake International Airport spokeswoman Barbara Gann told ABC 4.

Even though the strikes likely occurred while the planes were occupied, Gann said it was unlikely that passengers noticed. All of the strikes happened within two hours of each other.

"It is scary to hear that lightning strikes happen, but what I take away from it, what I think is important to know is that it happens it is not uncommon, although it is unusual to have this many in one day, but everything's fine," said Gann.

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