An Austrian Airlines flight from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, to Vienna, Austria (flight OS434) encountered a severe hailstorm on Sunday on its way to Vienna-Schwechat Airport. The aircraft sustained significant damage to its nose cone, cockpit windows, and exterior coverings.
Passenger accounts of the incident
“We were about 20 minutes from landing when we entered a hail and thunderstorm cloud, and the turbulence started,” passenger Emmeley Oakley told ABC News. Passengers onboard described hearing the hail striking the aircraft and feeling the intense turbulence. “We could definitely feel the hail coming down on the plane, and it was quite loud and super rocky for a minute,” Oakley added.
Emergency procedures and crew response
Due to the severity of the hailstorm, the cockpit crew issued a Mayday call. Oakley noted that the hail impacted the aircraft for approximately two minutes, causing turbulence and some loose objects to become airborne within the cabin. Despite the distress of some passengers, the flight attendants responded promptly to ensure safety and calm.
Despite the severe weather conditions, the plane landed safely at Vienna-Schwechat Airport without any injuries to passengers. “It was a pretty uneventful flight for 90% of the trip,” Oakley remarked. Upon exiting the aircraft, passengers were shocked to see the extent of the damage, particularly the missing nose cone. Oakley praised the pilots for their excellent handling of the situation.
Austrian Airlines confirmed the incident and stated that their technical team is currently inspecting the damage. The airline assured that passenger safety remains their top priority and commended the crew for their professionalism during the incident.