Lightning strikes jet, forcing it to make landing at BWI

A Continental Airlines Boeing 737 headed for Newark, N.J., with 95 people on board was apparently struck by lightning yesterday afternoon and made an emergency landing at

Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

Flight 1246 -- en route to Newark International Airport from Raleigh, N.C., -- was reportedly hit as it flew over Baltimore and encountered a violent series of storms about 5:30 p.m., said Continental spokeswoman Sarah Oates.

Oates said the pilots believe a lightning bolt struck the plane's vertical stabilizer, on the plane's tail, and damaged a beacon light, causing a circuit breaker to blow. She said the 90 passengers were most likely unaware of the strike.

No other damage was reported. Oates said the pilot decided to (( land at BWI as a safety precaution. The plane landed safely and taxied to the gate.

Pub Date: 7/20/96