Lightning strikes Air NZ plane

An Air New Zealand plane carrying 52 passengers was hit by lightning last night as it flew from Christchurch to Invercargill.

The aircraft had been delayed just over 30 minutes waiting for a storm to pass, but was then hit by another storm as it approached Invercargill, said the mother of a passenger.

"My daughter said it felt like turbulence when they hit the second storm, and there was a 'great big flash' of lightning."

A spokesman for Air New Zealand confirmed the plane had been struck by lightning.