Airbus in hail storm

[Zimme83]

An Ukranian A320 encountered a hail storm, pic taken after landing in Istanbul:

[Kanth]

Wow egg sized hail. that must have been pretty scary. I wonder how compromised that glass is.

[Zoney]

Less than my prom date was 

[hgtonyvi]

That does look scary. So it hit the nose??? Good thing not a wing or tail.

[Vulcan]

Less than my prom date was 

Yes we all know about your prom date...

[Kanth]

  

[Zimme83]

That does look scary. So it hit the nose??? Good thing not a wing or tail.

I guess that the nose cone is less resistant than the rest of the plane, it's just covering the radar.

[nrshida]

I guess that the nose cone is less resistant than the rest of the plane, it's just covering the radar.

I believe it's usually fibreglass. Bet the leading edges got hammered too. Good job on the windscreens, whoever made those otherwise the pilots would have experienced the ultimate facial scrub   

[oboe]

Wow.  I thought it was standard practice to route aircraft AROUND severe weather?

[DaveBB]

How did the turbine blades withstand that?

[Puma44]

Wow.  I thought it was standard practice to route aircraft AROUND severe weather?

It is.  Flying through a thunderstorm results in this or worse.  There is no valid reason to fly through a thunderstorm and it's accompanying hail, microbursts, heavy rain, etc.  Of course there will always be those who, for whatever motivation, will continue to do so on occasion and then have to explain to the boss why they did it, if they are still alive.

[icepac]

You guys know that hail can be heaved up to 25 miles laterally out of the top of the anvil?

It's pretty hard to predict which 30 degree wide radials that the hail will be at the 25 mile mark.

[oakranger]

Not the first time and will not be the last time.

[Busher]

I guess that the nose cone is less resistant than the rest of the plane, it's just covering the radar.

Guess no one taught 'em how to use the weather radar....  before it got smashed

[Busher]

You guys know that hail can be heaved up to 25 miles laterally out of the top of the anvil?

It's pretty hard to predict which 30 degree wide radials that the hail will be at the 25 mile mark.

With respect, Bullcrap! I flew for the same airline (all over world) for 37 years. I never dinged an airplane nor did any of my peers with a single hail stone. If you never fly the leeward side of a CB and never under its anvil, you won't get hit by hail.