Airliner’s nose damaged in caught-on-video hell ride through hailstorm
An airliner rocked violently as it flew through a hellish hailstorm that destroyed the plane’s nose and forced an emergency landing, harrowing video from the cabin showed.
LATAM Airlines Paraguay’s Flight LA1325 was caught in the brutal weather while flying to the capital of Asunción from Santiago de Chile late Wednesday.
Frightening footage shows the aircraft shaking badly as flashes of lightning crack outside and terrified passengers inside are heard screaming. No one was injured.
Stunning images taken on the ground show a gaping hole in the nose of the Airbus A320-200 and a shattered windshield.
The General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics of Chile said the plane made an emergency landing “due to extreme and unforeseen weather conditions.”
“This issue is under investigation, both on the DINAC side and on the side of the airline,” Félix Kanasawa, head of Paraguay’s National Directorate of Civil Aeronautics, told local radio, Reuters reported.
LATAM Airlines Paraguay said in a statement the plane “experienced severe weather conditions” that forced an emergency landing.
“Both passengers and crew are in good condition,” it said. “LATAM Airlines Paraguay regrets the inconvenience this meteorological event may have caused its passengers.”
The damaged plane, carrying 48 passengers, diverted to Foz do Iguaçu/Cataratas International Airport in Brazil, Simple Flying reported.
