I’ve always wondered why jets don’t just avoid large storms. Is it a case of simple economics or time? I’ve never flown. But if I did ever get up the nerve, I’d like to think that the pilot would avoid that unnecessary danger.

Missing Air France plane hit thunderstorms over the Atlantic

An Air France jet carrying 228 people from Rio de Janeiro to Paris is missing after running into lightning and strong thunderstorms over the Atlantic Ocean, officials said Monday. Brazil began a search mission off its northeastern coast.

Chief Air France spokesman Francois Brousse said the plane could have been hit by lightning.

Air France Flight 447, an Airbus A330, left Rio on Sunday at 7 p.m. local time (2200 GMT, 6 p.m. EDT) with 216 passengers and 12 crew members on board, company spokeswoman Brigitte Barrand.

About four hours later, the plane sent an automatic signal indicating electrical problems while going through strong turbulence, the company said.

The plane “crossed through a thunderous zone with strong turbulence” at 0200 GMT Monday (10 p.m. EDT Sunday). An automatic message was received fourteen minutes later “signaling electrical circuit malfunction.”