“Austrian Airlines plane sustains extensive damage after encountering severe hailstorm mid-flight | Exclusive Images Included”
A plane operated by Austrian Airlines sustained significant damage from hail during a recent flight from Palma de Mallorca to Vienna. The aircraft encountered a thunderstorm cell, causing severe hail damage to the cockpit windows, nose cone, and exterior panels. Austrian Airlines confirmed the incident, stating that the storm cell was not visible on the weather radar at the time. Fortunately, all 173 passengers and crew members on board remained unharmed. The airline is currently assessing the specific damage to the aircraft.
Passengers on the flight recounted the harrowing experience, noting that the hailstorm struck approximately 20 minutes before landing, causing turbulence and loud impacts inside the cabin. Despite the intensity of the storm, the crew managed to make a mayday call due to the damage sustained.
This incident comes on the heels of another turbulence-related event involving Singapore Airlines, where a Boeing aircraft experienced severe turbulence, resulting in injuries to passengers and crew. The turbulence forced an emergency landing in Bangkok, with some passengers requiring medical treatment. Singapore Airlines is cooperating with the investigation into the incident, which revealed a sudden change in gravitational force and a significant altitude drop as contributing factors to the injuries sustained.
