Hail severely damaged an Austrian Airlines airplane’s nose and cockpit windows during a flight from Spain to Austria after the flight encountered a thunderstorm cell, officials say.
Flight OS434 from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, to Vienna on Sunday encountered a thunderstorm cell during its approach to its destination.
The cockpit crew said the cell wasn’t visible on the weather radar, and a mayday distress call was made, Austrian Airlines said.
The hail damaged the two front cockpit windows, the aircraft nose and some coverings. Photos on social media showed severe damage to the front of the plane, with coverings stripped off its nose.
The plane was able to land safety at Vienna International Airport, and all passengers were unharmed, the airline said.
The airline said its technical team “is already tasked with assessing the specific damage to the aircraft” — an Airbus A320.
“The safety of our passengers and crews is the top priority for Austrian Airlines,” the airline said.
