By William Cole For Mailonline
Published: 21:02 GMT, 11 March 2019 | Updated: 21:22 GMT, 11 March 2019
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This is the terrifying moment bolts of lighting forced a Thomas Cook plane with 139 passengers onboard to turn around after hitting the aircraft's wing.
The Manchester to Banjul, Gambia flight was less than 54 seconds into the journey when it entered storm clouds and was struck by lightning.
Dramatic video footage and photos from the incident show the electric charge bouncing off the wing off the plane.
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A wiry bolt of lightning hit the Thomas Cook seconds after takeoff from Manchester International Airport. The plane has to return to Manchester and delayed the passengers on board by hours
Flight MT1140 left Manchester International Airport at 9.22pm, ascending into an ominous grey cloud.
A passenger over the right
