National carrier Vietnam Airlines representative said Wednesday its plane bound for Hanoi was struck by lightning at an airport in France last month.

The airline told the press the VN534 flight was scheduled to leave the Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport for Hanoi at 2:10 pm on April 24.

As the over layer of the engine was damaged, the flight was canceled.

Among 230 passengers on the plane, 140 bought Vietnam Airlines tickets. The others are Air France customers.

Vietnam Airlines said it had bought tickets of other airlines for some passengers who needed to fly immediately.

Those who agreed to wait for another Vietnam Airlines flight the following day were provided with free accommodation and cooking at a hotel in Paris.

The Air France customers were taken over to the airline.