Your questions actually leads to a much more encompassing issue and that is when does a PIC decide to stop his flight and land his airplane at other than it's intended destination.
The way I was taught you continue, unless you have
1) been requested by a higher authority e.g. the manufacturer (through procedures, recommendations etc.), your company, ATC to divert
2) Clear indications that you have or will have an issue that compromises the safety of the aircraft, it's passengers, cargo or crew to an extent that continuing is no longer a safe or reasonable course of action. This includes mechanical issues or health related issues of persons on board .
As for a lightening strike, do your manuals, either manufacturer or company, direct you to divert? Or do you have any indications from the instruments that the aircraft is less safe than it was before the strike and it is no longer safe to continue?
If you answer yes to either of the two above divert. If not continue. Ultimately, pilots can't divert because they're scared or just excessively worried. We need to base our decision on something concrete. And yes at the end of the day this is a difficult job and there are moments of fright/fear involved. If you don't like it get an office job.
Last edited by Airmann; 17th Nov 2019 at 09:35.