What happened
On June 9, 2024, at approximately 15:31 UTC, an Airbus A320-214 operated by an Austrian airline was en route from Palma de Mallorca to Vienna. While flying near Grafendorf bei Hartberg, Austria, the aircraft encountered a significant hailstorm. During the encounter, the crew declared a "MAYDAY" due to the breakage of the cockpit windshield and the onset of unreliable airspeed indications.
The crew successfully performed an emergency landing at Vienna International Airport. Upon inspection of the aircraft, the investigation revealed that in addition to the broken windshield, the hail had caused damage to the leading edges of the wings and the tail section. Furthermore, the aircraft's weather radar radome was missing, and the associated antenna was severely damaged.
The investigation
The Austrian Federal Safety Investigation Board (SUB) conducted an investigation into the incident, analyzing flight data from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), Quick Access Recorder (QAR), and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). The investigation also reviewed radar data and weather information from Austro Control GmbH. The SUB examined the flight's progression, including altitude changes and weather avoidance maneuvers, as well as the crew's use of weather monitoring tools, such as the windy.com app, which experienced connectivity issues during the flight.