World | Francois Hollande Day 1 as French President: Lightning Hits His Plane What a way for Francois Hollande to start his term By Evann Gastaldo Posted May 15, 2012 12:30 PM CDT Copied Reporters wait at the chancellery in Berlin for the arrival of new French President Francois Hollande, Tuesday May 15, 2012. (AP Photo/dapd/Maja Hitij) Francois Hollande started off his new job as president of France with a bang: His plane was hit by lightning today en route to Germany. It was forced to return to Paris, at which point Hollande boarded a second plane and will be about an hour and a half late for his talks with Angela Merkel in Berlin. No one was hurt, reports the BBC, which also notes that Hollande’s boarding of a new flight proves "his determination to meet with Merkel." Read These Next Republican Van Epps wins special House election in Tennessee. Trump administration is threatening SNAP food aid program. In Britain, rumors swirl that Ellen DeGeneres is going back to the US. Raccoon breaks into liquor store, passes out by the toilet. Report an error