From a report of the audio clip, don't have a link to the clip itself,
"Apparently Tower said they were operating with "normal operating bright" and asked the pilots if they wanted the lights brighter since they had problems to see forward.
"Pilots reported the front windshields were severely damaged but they could see at the sides."
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Thanks Tub for the link to the radar. imagery In trying to thread through the eye of a needle, they found that the eye had become an explosively developing supercell when they reached it. As it happened, they appear to have flown through the worst part at the worst time.
After a Delta 747, N664US, was severely damaged by hail over China in June, it was subsequently sent to the graveyard.
Other images here:
Hail pummels Delta's N664US Boeing 747; NWA's "Spirit of Beijing" may face scrapyard (Photos) - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal