A plane carrying Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and the man leading the state’s flood recovery, Major-General Mick Slater, has been hit by lightning over the Sunshine Coast.
Ms Bligh was returning from a tour of the flood ravaged town of Theodore when lightning hit the plane over Maleny just after 2:00pm (AEST) on Sunday.
A spokesman for the Premier says there was a loud bang and a flash of white light through the plane.
Two static wicks on both wings were destroyed, but the engines and navigation equipment continued to work and the plane landed without incident at Brisbane airport around 2:30pm.
The King Air has been used during the floods to move personnel and supplies to flood-affected towns.
Engineers are now checking the plane and it is expected to be out of operation for some time.
The Government has sourced a replacement aircraft to assist with flood operations.
The incident comes as towns across the flood-ravaged state endure more rain.
