Lightning bolt shocks MP

National MP Lockwood Smith and a full cabin of passengers had a shocking experience when a bolt of lightning hit their plane on Saturday night. "It was like a bomb going off," Dr Smith said.

Flight NZ2 to Los Angeles was hit by the bolt as it climbed out of Auckland in atrocious weather. Dr Smith said the plane didn't falter.

"I expected immediately the plane to lose power but no, she just kept climbing".

The captain told passengers all instruments were showing the systems were functioning properly.

If the plane had turned back it would have had to fly for hours to get rid of fuel.