A bolt of lightning struck my plane and I plunged 3000 m into a rainforest

Juliane Diller was the sole survivor of Lansa flight 508, which crashed in the Peruvian rainforest on December 24, 1971, after being struck by lightning. At 17, she witnessed the plane's disintegration and fell 3,000 meters into the jungle. After regaining consciousness, she found herself under the wreckage, with only minor injuries despite the fall. Over the next 11 days, Diller navigated the dense rainforest, relying on her knowledge of the area from her parents' research. She survived on minimal food, primarily citrus sweets, and water from a stream. Despite the challenges, including impaired vision and the threat of wildlife, she persevered, following the river in hopes of finding civilization. On the 11th day, she encountered a group of hunters who rescued her. Tragically, her mother did not survive the crash, and Diller was left to grapple with her survival amidst the loss. The incident remains the deadliest aviation disaster caused by lightning, and Diller's story has been recounted in various media, including Werner Herzog's documentary "Wings of Hope."

- Juliane Diller was the only survivor of the Lansa flight 508 crash in 1971.

- She fell 3,000 meters into the rainforest and survived for 11 days before being rescued.

- Diller relied on her knowledge of the rainforest and minimal food to navigate her way to safety.

- The crash was the deadliest aviation disaster caused by lightning in history.

- Diller's experience has been documented in various media, highlighting her remarkable survival story.