On Sunday, an Austrian Airlines flight, designated as Flight OS434, encountered severe atmospheric conditions en route from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, to Vienna, Austria, resulting in notable damage to the aircraft. The plane, an Airbus A320, was approximately 20 minutes from its destination when it flew into a hailstorm that was not detected by the cockpit’s radar systems.
The hail significantly impacted the aircraft, damaging the cockpit windows, some external coverings, and notably, the nose of the plane. Images released post-incident show the nose of the aircraft visibly compromised. Emmeley Oakley, a passenger aboard the flight, shared her experience with ABC News via text message, stating, “I think we were about 20 minutes from landing when we got into a cloud of hail and thunderstorm, and the turbulence started.”
Oakley detailed the harrowing moments inside the cabin as the hail battered the aircraft. “We could definitely feel the hail coming down on the plane and it was quite loud and ofc super rocky for a minute,” she described. The severe weather led to the pilot issuing a Mayday call in response to the immediate threat to the aircraft’s structural integrity.
Despite the tumultuous conditions, which lasted about two minutes and caused disarray inside the cabin, including “phones and cups” being thrown around, the flight crew managed the situation with commendable poise. “The cabin crew did a really good job calming those people down though,” Oakley noted, highlighting the professionalism of the airline staff under pressure.
Ultimately, the aircraft landed safely at Vienna-Schwechat Airport, a testament to the skill and preparedness of the crew. No injuries were reported among the passengers, underscoring a fortunate end to a potentially disastrous episode. This incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of air travel, where even well-equipped aircraft can encounter unforeseen challenges.