A narrow escape of passengers as hailstorm damage airbus A320 aircraft enroute from Spain to Vienna.
The Eagle News Service:
An Austrian Airlines flight en route from Spain to Vienna encountered a harrowing ordeal when it was battered by a severe hailstorm on Sunday afternoon. The Airbus A320 aircraft sustained significant damage as hail pummeled the cockpit windows and ripped off the front nose cone, prompting the crew to issue a mayday call and make an emergency landing.
Passengers recounted a terrifying experience, describing the flight as heavily rocked by turbulence as hailstones pounded the plane. Emmeley Oakley, a passenger on board, recalled feeling the impact of the hail and witnessing parts of the nose cone flying past the aircraft. Despite the chaos, no injuries were reported among the passengers, thanks in part to the efforts of the cabin crew in calming nerves.
Images shared online depicted the extent of the damage, with the front nose cone nearly obliterated and dense cracks spider-webbing across the windscreen. Austrian Airlines stated that the aircraft flew into a thunderstorm not visible on weather radar, highlighting the sudden and unexpected nature of the severe weather encounter.
Following the incident, a technical team was dispatched to assess the damage, which included the two front cockpit windows and various aircraft coverings in addition to the nose cone. This event comes on the heels of a recent tragedy involving turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight, underscoring the unpredictable hazards faced by air travelers.
In response to the incident, Austrian Airlines is cooperating with authorities to investigate further while ensuring the safety and well-being of its passengers.
