Urgent Situations - Austrian Airlines plane heavily impacted by hailstorm.
An AUA plane, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, suffered severe damage during its flight due to hailstorms. A call for help was made as it approached Vienna, but thankfully, it landed safely on Sunday night, as confirmed by the airline the next day. Luckily, the 173 passengers and 6 crew members on board were all unharmed.
A photo shared on the X platform by the Vienna Weather Center showed the damaged Airbus A320 with a torn nose and badly smashed cockpit windows. AUA also mentioned that the aircraft's coverings were damaged.
The aircraft had flown from Palma de Mallorca to Vienna. Apparently, the hail cell wasn't spotted by the crew on the weather radar, according to the airline.
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- The disruptive hailstorm had also caused disruptions in Austrian air traffic, leading to delays and cancellations of several flights.
- Austrian Airlines soon announced that they had deployed additional aircraft to mitigate the impact on their scheduled flights from Vienna.
- The storm was a rare occurrence in Vienna, causing concern among weather experts and aviation authorities, particularly due to the potential for such incidents during flight.
- Lufthansa, the German parent company, reassured its passengers that the safety of its passengers and crew remains a top priority during emergencies, and assured them of its commitment to adequate contingency plans.
- Following the incident, Austrian Airlines took immediate steps to inspect all its aircraft for potential hail damage and assess the necessary repairs, ensuring the aircraft's airworthiness for future flights.
- Despite the challenges posed by unpredictable weather and emergencies, Austrian Airlines continually strives to improve its services, making the safety and comfort of its passengers its utmost concern.
