Pilots Praised for Safe Landing After Austrian Airways Flight Suffers Hail Damage

Passengers aboard an Austrian Airways flight from Palma de Mallorca to Vienna found themselves harrowing when their aircraft encountered heavy hail, resulting in the plane’s nose being torn off.

The incident occurred on flight OS434, an Airbus A320, preparing to land at Vienna International Airport. Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene as the aircraft flew into a hailstorm, causing chaos and damage on board.

Emmeley Oakley, one of the passengers, recounted the experience, stating that the aircraft entered the hailstorm approximately 20 minutes before landing.

#Vienna #Austria An Austrian Airlines #A320 Reg: OE-LBM was severely damaged by a #hailstorm while on approach to #ViennaAirport in #Austria.

The airline said in a statement, "On today's flight OS434 from Palma de Mallorca to Vienna, an Airbus A320 aircraft was damaged by hail.… pic.twitter.com/1DPXcbWhg5

— SLCScanner (@SLCScanner) June 9, 2024

1. The turbulence intensified as hailstones pelted the plane, leading to the shattering of cockpit windows and significant damage to the nose section, which was ripped off within moments.

The damage to the cockpit windows left the pilots with limited visibility, prompting them to declare an emergency. Despite the challenging conditions, they managed to safely navigate the aircraft using the instrument landing system, ultimately executing an emergency landing at Vienna Airport.

Upon landing, emergency services swiftly responded, meeting the plane on the runway to assist passengers in disembarking safely. It was at this point that the extent of the damage became apparent, with the entire nose section of the aircraft missing.

Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries among the passengers or crew members. However, the aircraft sustained extensive damage, which was estimated to cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.

As a result, it is expected to be out of service for several weeks, pending further assessment.

A spokesperson for Austrian Airways confirmed that the aircraft encountered a thunderstorm cell that was not visible on the weather radar, leading to the hail damage. The airline’s technical team is conducting a thorough evaluation to determine the extent of the damage and the feasibility of repairs.

This incident marks the second instance of significant damage to an Airbus A320 in Austrian Airways’ service.

In a separate incident in April, a new A320neo suffered damage to its tail after colliding with a passenger bridge while taxiing at Vienna Airport.

The spokesperson emphasised the safety of passengers and crew members remains the airline’s top priority. Austrian Airways is committed to ensuring the well-being of all individuals involved and will provide updates as the situation develops.

Passengers who went through the terrifying experience expressed gratitude for the pilots’ skilful handling of the emergency. Despite their challenges, the crew landed safely, averting a potential disaster.

The incident reminds us that despite advanced technology and safety measures, weather-related hazards during air travel are unpredictable. It highlights the importance of preparedness and response protocols for extreme weather events.

As investigations into the incident continue, authorities will examine factors contributing to the aircraft’s encounter with the hailstorm and assess measures to mitigate similar risks in the future.

Austrian Airways reassures travellers that comprehensive safety protocols are in place to ensure the highest standards of safety and security throughout all stages of air travel. Passengers can trust the airline’s commitment to prioritizing their well-being and delivering a safe and comfortable flying experience.