Date: 202106
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZFW.ARTCC, TX
Flight conditions: IMC
Weather elements / visibility: Rain; Thunderstorm
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Corporate
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class A ZFW
ATC / advisory: Center ZFW
Aircraft component: Cockpit Window
Component problem: Failed
Reporter organization: Corporate
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Second reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Weather
Primary problem: Weather

Narrative: On a flight planned from ZZZ to ZZZ1 we were struck by lightning east of El Paso; TX; while cruising at FL400 along J74 with a clearance to deviate for weather. At the time we were struck by lightning; we were passing between two cells that were approximately 20nm north and south of us; and had been flying for several minutes inside a thin strati-form layer between two cells. The air was very smooth and our radar showed no weather of consequence beyond the two cells. The first indication that we had been struck by lightning was when there was a loud noise (bang) and the outer layer of the copilot's windshield completely fractured; with visible burn marks. We notified ATC and requested a descent to 10;000 ft and as soon as we were cleared we began a rapid descent while manually controlling the cabin pressure to reduce the differential pressure per the QRH procedure. On reaching 10;000 ft; with the cabin differential reduced to the minimum possible and the airspeed to 250 KIAS; we elected to continue to ZZZ1 where there is a factory service center. We were cleared to proceed to ZZZ with the occasional vectors to avoid high terrain and landed without incident.


Second narrative: On a flight planned from ZZZ to ZZZ1; we were struck by lightning east of El Paso; TX; while cruising at FL400 along J74 with a clearance to deviate for weather.  At the time we were struck by lightning; we were passing between two cells that were approximately 20nm north and south of us; and had been flying for several minutes inside a thin stratiform layer between the two cells.  The air was very smooth and our radar showed no weather of consequence beyond the two cells.  The first indication that we had been struck by lightning was when there was a loud noise (bang) and the outer layer of the copilot's windshield completely fractured; with visible burn marks.  We notified ATC and requested a descent to 10;000 ft and as soon as we were cleared we began a rapid descent while manually controlling the cabin pressure to reduce the differential pressure per the QRH procedure.  On reaching 10;000 ft; with the cabin differential reduced to the minimum possible and the airspeed reduced to 250KIAS; we elected to continue to ZZZ1 where there is a factory service center.  We were cleared to proceed to ZZZ1 with occasional vectors to avoid high terrain and landed without incident.


Synopsis: Air carrier flight crew reported a lightning strike damaging co-pilots windshield. The flight crew diverted to the nearest suitable airport.