Hollande Plane Turns Back after Hit by Lightning

Lightning hit French President Francois Hollande's plane as he flew for Berlin on his first trip abroad as head of state on Tuesday, forcing him to turn back, the defense ministry said.

The presidential Falcon 7X "was hit by lightning" and returned to Villacoublay military airport outside Paris, a defense ministry spokesman told Agence France Presse.

"For safety reasons and as a precaution, the plane, which was not far from Paris turned back. It landed without problem at Villacoublay and the president took off again in a Falcon 900," the spokesman said.

Hollande was en route for crucial talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel just hours after he was sworn in as president.