Lightning Strikes More Than Once for Lufthansa's Tardy Eurowings

A freak bout of electrical storms over Germany is to blame for the worst monthly punctuality record at Deutsche Lufthansa AG in at least two years, according to the company. The country suffered more lightning strikes in the first five months than in the whole of 2017, with planes hit by an average of three bolts a week, according to Thorsten Dirks, the Lufthansa board member responsible for the group’s Eurowings division. Aircraft have to undergo safety checks following lightning hits, taking them out of action for up to 16 hours.