Overview
On June 9, 2024, at approximately 15:31 UTC, an Airbus A320-214 operated by an Austrian airline experienced a hail strike near Grafendorf bei Hartberg, Austria. The cockpit crew declared a MAYDAY due to broken windscreens and unreliable speed indications. The aircraft subsequently landed safely at Vienna-Schwechat.
Flight History
Earlier that day, the crew had flown from Vienna to Palma de Mallorca. For the return flight, during which the incident occurred, the commander (CM1) was designated as Pilot Flying. The first officer (CM2) had been Pilot Flying on the outbound leg.
Damage Inspection
Post-landing inspection revealed a broken windscreen, damage to the leading edges of both wings and the horizontal stabilizer, a missing radome, and a severely damaged weather radar antenna. The exact extent of other damage was under investigation.
Weather Conditions
Weather data, including radar images, METAR reports, SIGMET warnings, and pilot reports, indicated the presence of severe weather in the area, including hail. The crew had received a weather briefing prior to the flight.
Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data
Data from the flight data recorder (FDR), quick access recorder (QAR), and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) were analyzed to reconstruct the sequence of events. The CVR recording was available from approximately 14:01 UTC.
Emergency Declaration and Landing
After the hail strike, the crew declared a MAYDAY and reported unreliable airspeed indications. They continued to Vienna-Schwechat and executed a safe landing. No injuries were reported.
Investigation
Austria's Safety Investigation Authority (SUB) initiated a safety investigation in accordance with EU Regulation 996/2010. The investigation was ongoing, and the report noted that further analysis would be conducted.