The flight from Manchester Airport to Agadir in Morocco, was diverted to London Gatwick less than an hour after take-off on Thursday.
The Thomson Airways Boeing 737-800 took off at 18:42 BST before being struck.
A spokeswoman for the airline said it was an "extremely rare" event and the diversion was "precautionary". The flight later landed safely in Agadir.
Liam Bolton, 27, from Chester in Cheshire, was travelling to Morocco for a holiday with his girlfriend when he heard a "sudden crack" on the aircraft.
He said the plane "lit up like someone had taken a photo".
"It was about 10-15 minutes after take-off and there was a large flash... everyone turned round to each other and knew it was lightning.
"About half an hour later, the pilot announced we'd been hit by lightning and we'd be landing at Gatwick," he said.
After around three hours on the runway, the same plane took off, he added.
Thomson Airways has apologised for any inconvenience caused by the adverse weather conditions.

Mudassir Hussain of Gladstone Street, Derby, pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism.
Sheffield Crown Court heard the 31-year-old made it to Turkey before his family alerted police, who then had him returned to England.
Police said the actions of Hussain's family may well have saved lives, including his own.
Hussain left the UK on 6 January and police were notified shortly after.
Within days, the Turkish authorities deported Hussain back to the UK where he was arrested and charged.
Det Ch Supt Clive Wain, head of the North East Counter Terrorism Unit which led the operation, said: "By pleading guilty Hussain has admitted his intention was to take part in the conflict in Syria and was aware that he may be killed.
"We were not aware of Hussain's intentions prior to him travelling and therefore by the time we intervened he had already committed an offence. However by reporting their concerns Hussain's family may well have saved lives, including his own."
Hussain was sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment and one year on licence.

The Oban lifeboat was launched on Thursday evening after the explosion near Puilladobhrain, which blew out the boat's windows and hatch.
The owner managed to escape the vessel and rowed himself ashore, making his way to Oban hospital. He was later transferred to Glasgow for treatment.
The lifeboat crew towed the yacht back to Oban to be safely berthed.

Edward Furneaux, 74, died after crashing his car into a tree in Kewstoke Road, Worle, on the morning of 19 January.
The body of his 70-year-old wife, Anne, was found at a property in Pilgrim's Way the same day.
No-one else is being sought in the murder inquiry into Mrs Furneaux's death, Avon and Somerset Police said.
A plane has been forced to carry out an unexpected landing after being struck by lightning.
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A man who tried to join the fighting in Syria has been jailed for more than five years for a terrorism offence.
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A yachtsman was treated for burns following an explosion on a vessel anchored off an island near Oban.
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A husband and wife who died in an apparent murder-suicide in North Somerset have been named.