Yemeni passenger plane damaged by severe hailstorm in Jordan, lands safely in Amman

A passenger aircraft operated by Yemenia Airways narrowly avoided a serious incident after encountering severe weather strong winds and intense hail while travelling from Aden, Yemen, to Jordan's capital, Amman.

A passenger aircraft operated by Yemenia Airways narrowly avoided a serious incident after encountering severe weather strong winds and intense hail while travelling from Aden, Yemen, to Jordan’s capital, Amman.

The Airbus A320 sustained significant damage to its nose and cockpit windshields after being caught in the severe hailstorm. Despite the challenging conditions the flight captain and crew managed to maintain control of the aircraft and land safely at Amman Airport.

The captain, Basim Fareed and his crew demonstrated considerable skill in handling the aircraft during the difficult weather conditions according to the report.

Yemenia Airways spokesperson Hatem Al-Shaabi confirmed that all passengers and crew members aboard the aircraft remained safe following the incident. No injuries were reported in the information provided by the airline.

Following the landing, the damaged aircraft was grounded at Amman Airport for inspection and necessary repairs. The airline also arranged a replacement aircraft to operate the return flight from Amman to Aden ensuring that passengers could continue their journey.

The incident highlights the challenges passenger aircraft can face when encountering severe thunderstorms and hail. Large hailstones can damage an aircraft’s exterior, cockpit windshields and other components making it essential for flight crews to respond carefully to rapidly changing weather conditions.

The safe landing prevented the incident from resulting in a more serious outcome. Airline officials confirmed the safety of everyone aboard while arrangements were made to address the damage and minimise disruption to flight operations.