Watch: Lightning strikes ground outside St. Pete-Clearwater airport

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A student pilot captured the moment lightning struck right outside of a terminal at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport. 

ATP Flight School student Ross Kirkham was at PIE when intense storms moved through the Bay Area Wednesday, bringing with it heavy rain and many lightning strikes.

In the video, a small plane can be seen on the tarmac with sheets of rain coming down around it. 

As Kirkham momentarily panned away from the plane, lightning struck the tarmac, just outside the window.

Airport officials confirmed lightning struck the tarmac, but caused only minor damage.