Airlines Flight Damaged by Hail ‘Pilots Did an Excellent Job’
An Austrian Airlines flight from Mallorca to Vienna encountered severe weather on Monday, which the pilots could not detect on their monitoring equipment. Despite the damage sustained, the pilot managed to bring the Airbus A320 down safely, with no reports of injuries.
Austrian Airlines issued a statement: “Airbus A320 aircraft was damaged by hail on yesterday’s flight OS434 from Palma de Mallorca to Vienna. The aircraft was caught in a thunderstorm cell on approach to Vienna, which according to the cockpit crew was not visible on the weather radar.”
The statement detailed the extent of the damage: “According to current information, the two front cockpit windows of the aircraft, the nose of the aircraft [the ‘radome’], and some paneling were damaged by the hail”, via Australian Wings Magazine.
Passengers on board reported feeling the impact of the hailstorm toward the end of the flight. “I think we were about 20 minutes from landing when we got into a cloud of hail and thunderstorm, and the turbulence started,” said passenger Emmeley Oakley.
Oakley recounted the experience to ABC News: “We could definitely feel the hail coming down on the plane, and it was quite loud and super rocky for a minute.” She mentioned that while the worst of the turbulence lasted only a few minutes, it was intense enough to cause some passengers to scream. “The cabin crew did a really good job calming those people down though,” Oakley added.
The severity of the incident became evident after the landing. “It wasn’t until we exited that we saw the nose was missing!” Oakley exclaimed. She praised the pilots, stating, “The pilots really did an excellent job keeping things as smooth and safe as they could.”
The flight’s safe landing, despite the severe weather conditions and damage to the aircraft, highlighted the skill and composure of the flight crew. The incident is a testament to the rigorous training and professionalism of Austrian Airlines’ pilots and crew, who managed to maintain calm and control throughout the ordeal.
While the exact cause of the inability to detect the thunderstorm cell on the weather radar remains under investigation, the airline’s quick response and detailed communication have been crucial in reassuring passengers and the public. The incident underscores the unpredictable nature of flying through severe weather and the importance of skilled aviation professionals in ensuring passenger safety.