Airbus A320 Forces Emergency Return in Poland After Severe Hail Damage. An Airbus A320 passenger aircraft was forced to perform an air turn back (ATB) to Katowice Airport after sustaining significant damage caused by a hailstorm. The incident occurred on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, during the climb phase, when the flight crew attempted to avoid an active thunderstorm but unexpectedly encountered intense hail.
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As a precaution, the pilots decided to discontinue the flight and return to the departure airport. The aircraft landed safely and all passengers disembarked without injuries. However, post-flight inspections revealed extensive damage, particularly to the forward fuselage, as well as the leading edges of the wings and stabilizers.
Additional damage was identified in the radome area, affecting the onboard weather radar and approach-related systems, requiring a comprehensive technical inspection. Specialists from LS Technics confirmed that such incidents demand complex maintenance work, including structural inspections, composite and metal repairs, and full system checks before the aircraft can return to service.
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This event highlights the serious risks posed by hail, one of the most dangerous weather phenomena in aviation, capable of causing major structural damage within seconds. It also underscores the growing challenge of increasingly frequent and intense convective storms across Europe, which are often difficult to detect, especially when onboard weather radar capabilities are limited.
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