Massive hailstorm in Istanbul 27.07.2017
 

Multiple aircrafts damaged

Turkish airline A-321 (ECN-IST), diverted to CKZ.

https://i.imgur.com/UleHFKD.jpg

Pegasus Airlines flight PC909

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DFwaYabWsAEKTXC.jpg

and the the "pièce de resistance" Atlas Global flight KK1010

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DFwYh-9WsAAeQBD.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DFzX7J3XcAAE46y.jpg

whoops

A video of the landing



Another video in the cabin

Why did they fly into it?

That is obviously a very relevant question. Given the downpour affecting the area the weather radar muss have been lit like a Christmas tree...

Actually dry hail doesn't show up that well on airborne weather radar.

That is obviously a very relevant question. Given the downpour affecting the area the weather radar must have been lit like a Christmas tree...
Why did they fly into it?

Also relevant is where was this encounter during arrival? What could ATC radar see, or was weather suppressed? If it was, and the a/c is at low altitude, the onboard Wx radar can become cluttered with ground returns. On various occasions, in Europe, I asked ATC for weather avoidance assistance and they told me they couldn't see much, but my scope was showing unfriendly returns. Problem was I wasn't so confident what was ground return and what was lumpy bumpy sky. Under vectors I sometimes refused them and requested places that I could see were clear. An ATC controller can tells us what they can see for real.
However, descending into Orlando, the choice was taken from me. The weather was so bad that ATC had to re-route all arrivals & departures round some severe stuff, and they could see it all.
ATC are responsible for terrain avoidance and concrete clouds. What responsibility do they have for CB avoidance?

Not all ATC controllers have access to a window in the direction of their controlling area, thus may not be able to see.
Some ATC units are better then others in having weather on their screens, some do not even have this capability. It would not be good to assume they have access to information they are unable to provide.

Of course those controllers that do and make use this technology are a great help to aviators and should be consulted as they can sometimes provide vital clues required to make a different decision.

Typhoon:

Yes, but there was a huge quantity! Plus water probably! And windshear ahead ? And turbulences on the wx radar too!

Would be intersting to see the wx radar picture and trajectory.

And at least 3 different aircraft?

Apparently also blew a 747 on to a loader parked next to it airporthaber.com/ahl-haberleri/firtina-nedeniyle-ahlde-b747-loader-aracina-carpti.html

Not all ATC controllers have access to a window in the direction of their controlling area, thus may not be able to see.

And that is what can be very disturbing. ATC give vectors towards finals, you have a lot of ground clutter, and trust ATC have your best interests at heart. They do not tell you, and thus you can not know, what they can see, or not. Going into GRO I tried to build a good picture of the weather when at high FL and ask for re-routing accordingly. When <FL200 the Pyrenees masked the true weather.
In todays world of low experienced captains they have been brought up to 'do as you are told' and thus do what ATC tell you without question. I've certainly seen it from F/O's: a nice sunny day, only one large Cu in the sky, a/c skin temp -20c, ATC give vectors directly towards the Cu. No thought as PF selected the HDG. I questioned it, blank expression from PF, and suggested to ATC that either another 20 degrees in the turn or a turn the opposite direction due Wx. No problem, they had a choice and made it. PF still looked blank as if it was a huge surprise we could question ATC.

I'm still curious at what FL and how far from the runway this damage happened. The windscreen of Global looks very challenging. Well done, in the end, guys.

The most damaged one, Atlasglobal A-320, got it while climbing through 4000 feet. The pilots claim they saw nothing on the weather radar
Incident: Atlasglobal A320 near Istanbul on Jul 27th 2017, hail strike

Was the radar turned on? Hail this time of year in IST is going to wet at the altitudes discussed and paint like crazy.

Good question

Has anyone got any TAF and METAR`s.

Here is a video from the ground in Turkey. Looks like some serious precip with the hail.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDSf9-13lH0

If you're in climb or descent and under ATC what are you supposed to do with your own weather radar? Do you cancel your ATC instruction?

Incident: Atlasglobal A320 near Istanbul on Jul 27th 2017, hail strike
also includes inside "view" of cracked windshield:eek:

As mentioned by some avherald commenter I'm surprised they did not use autoland.

Maybe the autoland antennae were as useful as the radome:ooh:

Yes.

"Unable due to ________"