A United Airlines Airbus A320-200 has returned to Chicago O’Hare with numerous windshield cracks, after the aircraft was struck by hail on climb. The 20-year-old A320, registered N462UA, was operating a flight to Washington Dulles at the time.
After taking off from Chicago Runway 22L on Monday, the aircraft flew through hail, causing the left-hand windshield to suffer multiple cracks, according to an AvHerald report.
The flight crew opted to stop the climb at approximately 15,000 feet, they then returned to Chicago for a safe landing on Runway 28C about 30 minutes after departure.
United arranged a replacement A320, which reached Washington with a delay of two hours & 45 minutes.
Feature Image: Alex Lang (via The Aviation Herald)
Relevant METARs
KORD 121951Z 29018G23KT 10SM BKN017 BKN049 OVC060 14/11 A2971 RMK AO2 PK WND 31026/1854 LTG DSNT NE RAE37 SLP061 P0004 T01390106=
KORD 121946Z 29011G20KT 10SM VCTS BKN017 BKN049 OVC060 14/11 A2971 RMK AO2 PK WND 31026/1854 RAE37 P0004=
KORD 121935Z 30014G23KT 10SM VCTS -RA SCT017 OVC049 14/11 A2970 RMK AO2 PK WND 31026/1854 LTG DSNT E P0004 T01390106=
KORD 121927Z 29012G23KT 10SM -RA SCT015 BKN034 OVC050 14/11 A2970 RMK AO2 PK WND 31026/1854 LTG DSNT E AND S P0004 T01390106=
KORD 121901Z 29017G26KT 8SM -RA FEW010 BKN015 OVC042 13/11 A2970 RMK AO2 PK WND 31026/1854 LTG DSNT SE AND S P0004 T01330111=