Austrian Airlines Airbus A320 Damaged by Hail on Approach to Vienna

On Sunday, an Austrian Airlines flight from Palma de Mallorca to Vienna encountered a severe hail storm during its approach to Vienna International Airport, resulting in significant damage to the aircraft. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers and crew.

The incident occurred on flight OS434, a twice-weekly service connecting Palma de Mallorca in Spain to Vienna, Austria. The flight, which departed at 15:56, 36 minutes behind schedule, experienced an uneventful journey until it approached Vienna. As the aircraft flew over Graz, it encountered a hail storm that was not visible on the weather radar. The impact caused severe cracks in the cockpit windows and shattered the radome.

Upon encountering the storm, the crew issued a mayday call and were guided to a safe landing at Vienna International Airport. The flight landed at 17:55, only 15 minutes behind its expected arrival time, despite the ordeal. Aviation and extreme weather forecaster Krzysiek Piasecki highlighted the unusual nature of the incident, questioning how the flight path led directly into the storm.

Austrian Airlines released a statement confirming the damage to the aircraft, detailing that the front cockpit windows, the nose, and some panels were affected by the hail. The aircraft involved was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration OE-LBM, a 23-year-old plane that has been part of Austrian Airlines' fleet since 2013. It previously operated for LTU International Airways, LTU Austria, and Air Berlin.

Following the incident, the damaged aircraft has remained on the apron in Vienna for inspection and repairs. The safety measures taken ensured that all passengers and crew members were unharmed, demonstrating the airline's effective response to unforeseen weather challenges.