A Vistara flight operating from Bhubaneswar to Delhi, India was forced to make a return after experiencing hail damage on 1 May 2024.
Vistara flight UK788, operated by an Airbus A320-200, had made a departure from Bhubaneswar (BBI) when it passed through a hailstorm whilst on climb.
Vistara UK788 Bhubaneswar-Delhi
The aircraft subsequently suffered hail strike damage to the windshield, prompting flight crew to initiate a precautionary return.
The flight subsequently returned and made an emergency landing without further incident at Biju Patnaik International Airport approximately 30 minutes after initial departure.
Preliminary reports indicated that the aircraft windshield developed a crack. Some damage to the radome assembly was also evident from photographs.
The flight was operating with 169 passengers and crew on board, and no injuries were sustained during the in-flight incident.
Flight data shows that the Delhi bound flight made a departure from Bhubaneswar at 1344 local time on 1 May.
The aircraft had been in the air for approximately 10 to 15 minutes when the encounter took place. Flight crew subsequently terminated the climb at FL200 and a precautionary return was requested.
A320-200 VT-TQH
The aircraft conducting the UK788 service was an Airbus A320-200, registered VT-TQH. This is a 2.7-year-old aircraft belonging to the carrier Vistara. It has been in operational service with the airline since its initial delivery in September 2021.
Vistara is an Indian full-service airline founded in 2013 as a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines.
It started operations in January 2015 with its first flight between Delhi and Mumbai. As of April 2023, Vistara is the second-largest domestic airline in India with a market share of 8.7%.
Vistara serves 50 destinations across India with a fleet of Airbus A320neo, Airbus A321neo, and Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The carrier recently launched international flight services to London.
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