Lightning tears holes in Brisbane Airport runway, prompting overnight repairs

Inbound flights switched to the eastern runway while crews replaced damaged asphalt and a burned-out guiding light.

AustraliaStory of October 29, 2026Trari Newsroom

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Superstorm unleashes 7,000 lightning strikes in night of chaos | 9 News Australia

A lightning strike left holes along the centerline of Brisbane Airport's western runway, sending maintenance crews into an overnight repair operation before it could reopen the next morning.

Australia's 9 News Australia reports that the direct hit came during a severe storm that produced about 7,000 lightning strikes across southeast Queensland. Footage captures the strike, then shows airport facilities chief Rod Macbeth pointing out the damaged asphalt.

Emergency and maintenance workers inspect the holes and mark the affected areas with spray paint. Inbound flights are diverted to the eastern runway while technicians assess the damage. One holds up a runway guiding light with its electrical components burned out.

The repair requires more than a surface inspection: crews use saws and asphalt torches as they cut into and repave the damaged sections. According to the report, the work is completed in under nine hours.

Reporter Pat Heagney says damage of this severity has not occurred at the airport in at least 30 years. Macbeth credits the overnight workers with restoring the runway: "The crews have done a fantastic job working all night to get the runway reopened for this morning."

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