Austrian Airlines flight OS434, which was en route from Palma de Mallorca, Spain to Vienna, Austria, experienced considerable hail damage while approaching its destination. The airline stated that the aircraft was caught in a severe thunderstorm, leading to damage on the cockpit windows, exterior coverings, and particularly, the nose cone.
Travelers on the a 23-year-old Airbus SE A320 reported hearing the hail hitting the plane approximately 20 minutes before landing as it entered a hail and thunderstorm cloud, which then led to the onset of turbulence.
Images shared on the internet displayed the nose cone of the aircraft with most of its aerodynamic shell removed, revealing the internal structure of the jet, and the rest of the fuselage marked with dents from hail impact. The two windows situated in front of the cockpit were significantly harmed but remained unbroken.
As a result of an intense hailstorm, the cockpit crew initiated a Mayday distress call.
The plane’s passengers recounted the hail striking the aircraft for an estimated duration of two minutes, resulting in turbulence and objects within the cabin becoming airborne. A few passengers have reportedly experienced distress, but the flight attendants promptly intervened to guarantee the safety of the cabin.
According to the airline, the aircraft faced a storm cell during its descent towards Vienna, which was not detected on the weather radar by the pilots. The airline further stated that the cockpit windows, the plane’s nose, and certain panels were damaged due to hail, as per the current evaluation.
Austrian Airlines added that the plane safely landed at Vienna-Schwechat Airport, without any of its passengers being harmed, and the carrier’s technical team is assessing the extent of the damage.
