What happened
On 17 July 2003, at approximately 23:14 UTC, an MD-83, registration SE-RDL, was conducting a public transport flight at Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The aircraft, operated by a Swedish-based company, was carrying 134 passengers and 6 crew members. During the course of the operation, the aircraft sustained damage caused by stones striking the underside of the starboard wing and the fuselage.
There were no fatalities and no injuries reported among the passengers or the crew following the incident. The damage was localized to the lower sections of the aircraft's structure.
The investigation
Because the incident involved a Swedish-registered aircraft and a Swedish operator, the investigation was led by the Swedish authorities. The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) provided technical assistance to the Swedish team. The AAIB's involvement included the analysis and replay of the Flight Data Recorder, as well as the provision of relevant meteorological information, airfield data, and photographic evidence to support the findings of the Swedish investigators.