The 5 Natural Phenomena That Pose the Greatest Risk to Airplanes

Storms represent the most intense form of atmospheric turbulence. They are also a major hazard for flights. The convective currents within a storm can violently shake an aircraft, causing damage or even more severe consequences.

As a result, airports are equipped with their own meteorological stations, providing forecasts of adverse weather conditions to update pilots continuously. Air traffic controllers also monitor weather patterns to guide flights during takeoff and landing for maximum safety.

If the weather becomes too severe, and the storm is large enough, airlines may choose to cancel flights due to the extreme impact of the storm. If the flight proceeds, there's no need to worry. The airline has already accounted for the safety of the flight. However, it may feel a bit bumpy, like driving through a rough road.

Also, you don’t need to be concerned about flying through thunderstorms and lightning strikes. Aircraft are specifically designed to withstand lightning, so even if struck, there will be no issues.

Adverse weather conditions are responsible for 10% of airplane accidents. Despite the availability of advanced electronic systems like gyroscopic compasses, satellite navigation, and weather data connectivity, aircraft are still vulnerable to extreme cold and ice conditions.

Ice can form both in the air and on the ground, significantly impacting commercial flights and smaller aircraft. From 1982 to 2000, 819 people lost their lives due to this cause, most of these fatalities occurring during the cold winter months.

However, with the introduction of modern equipment, the impact of ice on flights has been significantly minimized.

Birds are the leading natural cause of flight incidents. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has recorded thousands of bird strikes annually, with approximately 80% of these incidents going unreported. These collisions often occur when birds hit the aircraft's windshield or are sucked into the engine, causing damage.

Most bird strikes happen during takeoff and landing at low altitudes. However, it is not uncommon for birds to collide with planes at altitudes above 6,000 meters. Some species, like geese, can even fly as high as 10,000 meters. Bird strikes cost the aviation industry around $1.2 billion annually.

Today, many solutions have been implemented to reduce these incidents. Many modern airports have constructed observation towers to track migratory bird routes. Other methods include using sound waves to deter birds near airports, clearing areas around airports to prevent nesting, and placing spikes on rooftops and poles to keep birds from perching.

Lightning is a major hazard to flights. A lightning strike to the aircraft's nose can temporarily blind the pilot, cause electrical malfunctions, and damage critical electronics on board. There are around 2,000 thunderstorms in the sky at any given time, and each cloud can emit up to 100 lightning bolts per second. One of the deadliest lightning-related incidents occurred in 1963 when a Pan Am flight was struck by lightning and crashed, killing 83 people.

In 1971, a Lockheed Electra L-188A aircraft crashed while en route from Jorge Chavez Airport in Lima, Peru, to Pucallpa, on Christmas Day. The plane encountered a storm and was struck by lightning at an altitude of 6,900 meters, causing the pilot to lose control. The plane, carrying 92 passengers and crew, crashed to the ground, with both wings catching fire and detaching from the fuselage. Statistics show that at least one flight is struck by lightning each year, making it one of the significant threats to air travel. However, advances in technology have made flights safer, as modern planes are built with conductive alloys that can withstand lightning strikes. Additionally, improved weather forecasting has allowed flights to avoid most thunderstorms and electrically charged clouds.

With developments in radar and weather prediction technologies, flights can now easily avoid thunderstorm clouds containing lightning. Even if a lightning strike does occur, modern technology ensures the aircraft's safety and allows the flight to continue.

When an aircraft enters a turbulent region, it experiences shaking and instability. For this reason, the crew consistently reminds passengers to fasten their seatbelts and minimize movement unless necessary. Air turbulence is a common cause of flight disruptions, and many passengers experience the sensation of shaking or jolting as the aircraft enters a turbulent air zone.

This phenomenon occurs in areas where air pressure fluctuates or convection currents are present, influenced by terrain and the interface between warm and cold air masses. Turbulence can even happen when the sky appears clear, and it is difficult to detect using radar.

Under normal conditions, wind moves horizontally, with stronger winds aloft and weaker winds near the ground, and air density decreases as altitude increases. However, in “turbulent zones,” this pattern is disrupted. Air and wind move up and down, sideways and vertically, continuously, creating chaotic and unpredictable movements, generating brief vortices.

Scientists regard this as one of the most dangerous threats to aircraft. Using regular radar, it is nearly impossible to detect these “turbulent zones,” which typically occur at altitudes between 7-12 kilometers or near high mountain ranges in clear, cloudless skies, the ideal conditions for pilots.

The increasing impact of climate change is contributing to a rise in the frequency of these “silent killers.” It is projected that their occurrence will increase by 40-170% as CO2 emissions double compared to pre-industrial times.