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6d ago

Southwest Flight Safely Lands After Likely Lightning Strike Near Denver

The incident occurred during severe holiday weekend storms, causing widespread travel delays across the U.S.

A Southwest Airlines jetliner taxis down a runway for departure from Denver International Airport in Denver, Colo., on May 23, 2025.
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Overview

  • Southwest Airlines Flight 168 from Tampa to Denver likely sustained a lightning strike while descending toward Denver International Airport on Sunday evening.
  • The plane landed safely without injuries to passengers or crew and was met by emergency crews as a precautionary measure.
  • The aircraft has been taken out of service for inspection, with no updates yet on when it will return to operation.
  • Severe thunderstorms across the southern and central U.S. disrupted Memorial Day weekend travel, with over 2,700 flights delayed and dozens canceled on Monday.
  • This Memorial Day weekend saw record travel numbers, with 45.1 million Americans traveling at least 50 miles, coinciding with the first enforcement of the REAL ID requirement for domestic flights.