Passengers Freak as Lightning Strikes Commercial Plane (Video)

Lightning exploded across the wing of a packed passenger jet flying into Mexico City, sending terrified travelers into panic mode as screams erupted inside the cabin.

Passengers aboard a Viva Airlines flight got the scare of their lives when a powerful bolt of lightning appeared to slam directly into the aircraft mid-flight during a stormy approach into Mexico City. In shocking footage now spreading online, a massive flash lights up the night sky before the plane’s left wing appears to glow from the intense strike.

The terrifying moment reportedly happened just minutes before landing, with passengers watching in horror as the blinding burst of electricity cracked across the aircraft. Some travelers were heard screaming while others braced for the worst as the cabin filled with panic.

One passenger described the scene as feeling “straight out of a disaster movie,” while others reportedly began praying after the impact.

Even more alarming, video from inside the plane appeared to show part of the wing glowing orange in the aftermath of the strike, fueling fears that the aircraft may have been damaged thousands of feet in the air.

Despite the terrifying ordeal, Viva Airlines later insisted the aircraft was never in danger. The airline told local media outlets the plane safely continued its route and landed without incident in Mexico City.

Commercial airplanes are designed to withstand lightning strikes, and experts say aircraft are hit more often than many travelers realize. Still, that knowledge did little to calm the passengers trapped onboard during the heart-stopping moment.

For those inside the cabin, it was a flight they likely will never forget.