The crew attempted to skirt an active thunderstorm but instead flew straight into a violent hailstorm.
Pilots immediately declared an air turn-back and the Airbus A320 landed safely back at Poland’s Katowice-Pyrzowice Airport last Tuesday (21 Apr).
Images released by Polish aviation maintenance firm LS Technics show the full horror of the damage.
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The aircraft’s forward fuselage and distinctive nose radome are pockmarked with deep craters, large tears and peeled paint, exposing underlying structure in several places.
One image reveals a gaping hole in the nose cone.
The hail also struck the wing leading edges and horizontal stabilisers, according to LS Technics.
Damage was recorded to the weather radar antennas and glide-path system inside the radome, systems critical for navigation and landing.
A company spokesperson described hail as “one of the most serious threats” to aircraft, capable of inflicting major structural harm in seconds.
No airline has been publicly named and no official statement has yet been issued by Polish aviation authorities or the operator.
Hail encounters of this severity are relatively rare but can occur when crews inadvertently penetrate the core of a developing thunderstorm cell during climb.
Aviation safety experts routinely warn that even brief exposure to large hail can render modern jets temporarily out of action, as reported by Need To Know.
In this case, the rapid decision to turn back prevented any further escalation.
The aircraft remains on the ground at Katowice for what is expected to be extensive repairs before it can return to service.
No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
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