LIGHTNING FROM AN AIRPLANE COCKPIT OVER TURKEY! (credit: Turkish Airlines Pilot Utku Utkan)

DISCUSSION: As a commercial flight made its final approach towards Istanbul Atatürk International Airport, there were some strong thunderstorms which were moving towards and through the areas in and around Istanbul, Turkey.  As a result, the pilot and the entire cabin crew and passenger population aboard this flight saw quite an impressive lightning show as seen in the image below courtesy of Turkish Airlines Pilot Utku Utkan.  Note how close the lightning was in the photograph captured below by the aforementioned pilot.  Typically, all over the world, pilots and especially commercial airplane pilots will often do their very best to avoid flying near or through strong to severe thunderstorms due to the inherent dangers posed by strong updrafts and/or downdrafts in the vicinity of the core of the thunderstorm.  Nonetheless, here was a case where the pilots (based upon their likely required flight path by the local Air Traffic Controller) had no choice but to fly in close proximity to this particular area of thunderstorm activity.  Absolutely breath-taking shots to say the least! To learn more about other high-impact weather from across Europe, click here!