An Austrian Airlines plane suffered significant damage to the front after encountering a severe hailstorm this Sunday, which forced the activation of safety protocols to protect the lives of the crew.
The aircraft, an Airbus A320 covering the route from Palma de Mallorca to Vienna, was affected by heavy rain and hail while flying over the skies of Italy, about 150 kilometers southwest of the Austrian capital.
During the approach to Vienna, the plane ended up in a storm area that, according to the cabin crew, was not visible on the weather radar," a spokesperson for the airline explained, as reported by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo.
This event forced the captain and the first officer to declare a state of emergency and request priority for landing, a signal known as "Mayday".
Among the main damages to the aircraft was the destruction of the outer layer of the cockpit windows, without causing a loss of aircraft pressurization. It also destroyed the front of the fuselage, where the weather radar is located, and caused other damages along the fuselage, without rendering the main controls or engines unusable.
The pilots were left with no visibility; however, according to El Mundo's report, at the Austrian airport they usually land using the instrumental system "ILS," which allows them to descend in low visibility conditions. No injuries were reported.
They also assured that the repair of the airplane could cost enough to proceed with its dismantling.
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