What data source is commonly reviewed to assess potential lightning hazards at the time of the mishap?

• A. Lightning data.
• B. Passenger manifests.
• C. Maintenance schedules.
• D. Flight plans from unrelated flights.

Answer: (A)

Lightning data is the go-to source for evaluating potential lightning exposure at the mishap time. Investigators pull records from lightning detection networks and related weather observations to show where and when lightning occurred in the area, then compare that with the aircraft’s path and the surrounding storm activity. This helps determine whether the flight interacted with a thunderstorm or was struck, and it supports assessing lightning-related risk for the event. Passenger manifests, maintenance schedules, and flight plans from unrelated flights don’t illuminate atmospheric hazards at the moment of the incident, though they may serve other investigative purposes.