Cancun, Q.R. — An early morning U.S. flight bound for Cancun was forced to turn around after being struck by lightning. The Spirit Airlines plane that departed Philadelphia Friday morning was forced to turn around for an emergency landing.
Flight trackers show the plane circling over South Jersey three times before returning to the international airport. According to the plane’s crew, the plane was struck by lightning twice after take off.
A winter storm passing through the area at the time generated lightning in some parts of Philadelphia.
According to the Federal Aviation Association, Spirit Airlines Flight 2214 landed safely around 11 a.m. after crews reported multiple lightning strikes. The plane was on its way to Cancun International when it was hit. The Federal Aviation Association is investigating.
Part of that same winter system has reached the Yucatan Peninsula generating cool temperatures and heavy rainfall for the holiday weekend.