(AP) -- Officials say a lightning strike forced a plane from North Carolina to land at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

It happened around 6 p.m. Thursday.

A spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration says the American Airlines flight was scheduled to land at New York's LaGuardia Airport, about 10 miles away from JFK, after reporting the plane was struck by lightning.

The flight had taken off from Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina.

American Airlines says the plane, which was carrying 55 passengers and four crew members on board, landed safely at JFK Thursday evening.

The FAA says it will investigate the incident.