An Austrian Airlines flight traveling from Palma de Mallorca, Spain to Vienna, Austria encountered severe turbulence on Sunday, June 9th, 2024 after encountering a hailstorm. The Airbus A320, identified by its registration number OE-LBM and carrying flight number OS434, sustained damage during the incident.
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The flight departed Palma de Mallorca at 3:55 pm CEST (Central European Summer Time) and climbed to its cruising altitude of 34,000 feet over the Mediterranean Sea. It was during this climb that the aircraft flew through the hailstorm, resulting in significant damage. The plane's nose radome, which houses the weather radar, was heavily damaged by the hail. The windshield was also cracked, and weather radar functionality was compromised.
Despite the damage, the pilots of OS434 were able to maintain control of the aircraft and continue their flight towards Vienna. The plane landed safely at Vienna International Airport at 5:59 pm CEST, approximately two hours after takeoff. Thankfully, there were no reports of injuries among the passengers or crew on board.
The incident highlights the dangers that severe weather conditions can pose to aircraft. Hailstorms can cause significant damage to airplanes, and flying through turbulence can be a frightening experience for passengers. While Austrian Airlines has not yet commented on the extent of the damage to OS434, the Airbus A320 will likely require repairs before it can return to service.