Both windshields of the China Southern Airlines plane were severely damaged during a hail storm as it descended towards its destination of Chengdu
Both windshields of the China Southern Airlines plane were severely damaged during a hail storm as it descended towards its destination of Chengdu
A China Southern Airlines plane was severely damaged during a hail storm as it descended towards its destination of Chengdu.

The battering by hailstones caused multiple cracks across both windshields, obliterating the view and forcing the pilots to fly virtually 'blind'.

Fortunately, the crew managed to land the aircraft safely at the Chinese airport and there were no injuries reported.

According to AV Herald, the Airbus A320 was travelling from Guangzhou to Chengdu on July 9.

Flight CZ3483 encountered the hail storm as it descended towards the southern Chinese city.

AV Herald described the windshield as having become 'basically opaque'.

This meant the pilots had to navigate using their instruments rather than by sight.

The nose of the plane had most of its paint stripped off by the hailstones with the metal bodywork showing
The nose of the plane had most of its paint stripped off by the hailstones with the metal bodywork showing

As well as damage to the front of the plane, the leading edge of the left engine fan was also said to be damaged
As well as damage to the front of the plane, the leading edge of the left engine fan was also said to be damaged
As well as damage to the windshields, the hail stones stripped off the paint from the nose of the plane.

The leading edge of the left engine fan was also severely damaged.

Airline crew were able to land the aircraft safely and it arrived at Chengdu Airport at 7.51pm local time.

China Southern Airlines released a statement via the company's Weibo account, China's equivalent of Twitter.

It read: 'On July 9, a China Southern Airlines B-9931 A320 aircraft, flight CZ3483 travelling from Guangzhou to Chengdu, took off from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport at 18.05. It arrived at 19.51 in Chengdu Shuangliu Airport.

A close up shot of the windshield shows the extent of the damage, where the glass was completely cracked but managed to hold its shape
A close up shot of the windshield shows the extent of the damage, where the glass was completely cracked but managed to hold its shape

Airline crew were able to land the aircraft safely and it arrived at Chengdu Airport at 7.51pm local time
Airline crew were able to land the aircraft safely and it arrived at Chengdu Airport at 7.51pm local time
'After the plane landed, maintenance staff checked over the plane and established that the radar cover on the front of the plane, both pilot windshields and parts of the body of the plane were damaged.

'Their initial investigation concluded that the damage was as a result of hail stones mid-flight.

'The plane is parked at the airport for repair.

'Flights scheduled for the aircraft have now been assigned to other planes.'