Quote:
Given that planes are routinely hit by lightening, I'm pretty sure an EMP could be shrugged off.



Space Shuttle hit by high altitude lightning, which didn't survive.

Aircraft lightning strikes have also caused many aircraft crashes. They aren't as trivial as many think, even for Duraluminium skinned aircraft with excellent Faraday shielding qualities with out FBW.

Modern Aircraft like the Dreamliner or the A350 have poor Faraday performances (attenuation ) with 50% construction from carbon composites and poor electrical properties versus light alloys (aluminium) i.e. grounding and metallization problems and Bad electrochemical compatibility which need in particular locations the use of Titanium and light alloys. These aircraft also use unstable aerodynamics and FBW and FADEC (electronic flight and engine controls)

These aircraft if subject to nuclear HEMP would probably have failing FBW systems, would then suffer catastrophic structural failure due to excessive G as the natural aircraft tendency for increased angle of attack at high velocities greater than Mach 0.7 at altitude.

Civilian aircraft are also subject to danger even from high powered ground or sea based radio transmitters such as directed microwave energy weapons such as AESA Radars used in EW (electronic war fare)