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AA 1897 SAT-PHX Divert to ELP for Hail Damage
American 1897, an A319 N806AW, San Antonio to Phoenix is diverting to El Paso due to hail damage that has shattered the windshield. They report having little forward visibility due to the damage.
They are currently holding north of the field doing checklists. So far, no injuries reported from the weather encounter. |
Looks like a fairly solid line of storms from Mexico north across far west Texas and eastern Nex Mexico to Colorado. |
ILS 22, exit to the left at H. Checked by ARFF, they say the 'nose cone' is very damaged as well. Will be towed to gate A4 as soon as AA can find the towbar. Still no known injuries. :ok:
Pax selfies on Twitter and the 11 pm news. :) |
Customary after landing tweet with a picture of the AA1897 pilots and requests from media like the Daily Mail asking for usage rights in the comments:
https://www.pprune.org/members/2149-...ryvmaaqdyv.jpg Statement from AA corporate: “American Airlines flight 1897, from San Antonio to Phoenix, diverted to El Paso due to damage sustained by weather in flight. The aircraft, an Airbus A319 with 130 passengers and a crew of five, landed safely at 8:03 p.m. MT. The aircraft is currently being evaluated by our maintenance team. We never want to disrupt our customers’ travel plans, and we are sorry for the trouble this caused.” |
It’s amazing how many commercial pilots think weather radars can detect hail. Ice produces virtually no return, hence every year or so we get to see photos like this. LD |
You can see how happy the FO and Captain is, to be safe on the ground. Definitely worth their pay. |
Originally Posted by Locked door
(Post 10164715)
It’s amazing how many commercial pilots think weather radars can detect hail. Ice produces virtually no return, hence every year or so we get to see photos like this. LD And if it didn’t this time- or any other time for that matter- other than staying home, how would anyone including yourself eliminate the risk entirely? I’m sure they (and perhaps with concurrence of despatch) thought they were deviating prudently enough. Armchair warrior indeed. |
You can see where they may have thought there was a break in the line of weather over New Mexico and then hit a hail shaft in the 'clear' area.
https://www.pprune.org/members/2149-...99-aa-1897.jpg |
Those pics are not of the AA aircraft, they are of the Delta 319 that had a similar encounter not long ago. Note the blue engine cowlings/underside and the gold epaulettes of the DL CA.... |
Originally Posted by aa73
(Post 10164858)
Those pics are not of the AA aircraft, they are of the Delta 319 that had a similar encounter not long ago. Note the blue engine cowlings/underside and the gold epaulettes of the DL CA.... |
Airbubba, relying on the flightaware weather radar graphic can be a bit misleading - it's not always at the same time as whatever incident you're looking at.
That said, insight into the decision making process for the route they took will be very interesting. |
Originally Posted by Airbubba
(Post 10164873)
Thanks for the correction, I'll remove the post. :ok:
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Some more web clippings, thanks for the help on finding the correct aircraft.
Video of the pilots after deplaning: Some pictures from various media and social media sources: https://www.pprune.org/members/2149-...69533952-n.jpg https://www.pprune.org/members/2149-...72388864-n.jpg https://www.pprune.org/members/2149-...44220416-n.jpg https://www.pprune.org/members/2149-...af58ca9ba3.jpg https://www.pprune.org/members/2149-...46a032f829.jpg |
WOW... I'd like to see the leading edges and engine intakes.
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Originally Posted by Jet Jockey A4
(Post 10165149)
WOW... I'd like to see the leading edges and engine intakes.
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Originally Posted by FIRESYSOK
(Post 10164825)
Hail does produce returns if it is wet enough. And if it didn’t this time- or any other time for that matter- other than staying home, how would anyone including yourself eliminate the risk entirely? I’m sure they (and perhaps with concurrence of despatch) thought they were deviating prudently enough. |
Originally Posted by Locked door
(Post 10164715)
It’s amazing how many commercial pilots think weather radars can detect hail. Ice produces virtually no return, hence every year or so we get to see photos like this. LD Fly Safe, B-757 |
Hail can be tossed out of a big cell as far as 20 miles downwind. The problem is that if you will only operate when you can remain 20 miles away from a cell your going to be grounded a good part of the summer in the US. |
A morning after picture from a news report credited to Holly Rush:
https://www.pprune.org/members/2149-...a0umy-x600.jpg The nacelle and wing don't look too bad in this shot. |
Originally Posted by JammedStab
(Post 10165195)
You can see much of the wings and intakes in the first picture with little to no damage. I have noticed this frequently in these hail encounters and would be curious to know if anyone has an explanation for the lack of damage in some area where one would think that there would be damage.
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