A passenger jet sustained a damaged nose and cockpit after flying into a severe hailstorm.
Passengers and crew escaped unharmed after their plane was battered by the storm.
Images showed the radome stripped of paint, dented and pockmarked, while the left cockpit windscreen appeared covered in cracks.
READ MORE: Skilful pilot aborts landing attempt in fierce storm crosswind
Yemenia Airways flight IY648 was travelling from Aden International Airport in Yemen to the Jordanian capital Amman when it hit the storm on approach on Monday (26 October).
Airline spokesperson Hatem al-Shaabi confirmed the plane landed safely after the “hail strike” and would remain at Queen Alia International Airport for maintenance and inspection.
No injuries were reported among passengers or crew despite significant turbulence during the encounter.
Captain Basim Fareed and his crew maintained control and completed the landing on runway 26L, as reported by Need To Know.
Passenger accounts described moments of fear as the aircraft entered the thunderstorm, with some saying the captain calmly reassured those on board that everything was under control and they would land safely.
Al-Shaabi said weather fluctuations pose a challenge to airlines worldwide and require strict adherence to safety procedures to protect passengers and crews.
He praised the company’s qualified, experienced pilots and specialised technical teams, noting ongoing training programmes to raise operational readiness.
The damaged Airbus A320, registered 7O-AFB, was still on the ground in Amman the following day as engineers assessed the hail damage.
Passengers booked on the return service from Amman to Aden were transferred to a replacement aircraft departing at the time already shown on their tickets.
Yemenia described the damage as superficial to the nose but stressed that the safety of passengers, crews and aircraft remains the airline’s top priority.
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