An Atlas Air Boeing 777F cargo aircraft encountered severe hail north of Hong Kong, resulting in significant damage.
The Boeing 777-200F with registration N709GT was operating flight GTI8341 from Hong Kong (HKG) to Liege (LGG) in Belgium.
The incident occurred during the climb-out phase following departure from Hong Kong’s runway 07R. As reported by The Aviation Herald, the aircraft flew through a hailstorm, causing extensive impact damage.
The brunt of the damage appears to be focused on the forward section of the aircraft. The radome, which houses the weather radar, was reportedly smashed, rendering the radar inoperable.
Despite the damage, flight GTI8341 continued on to its scheduled destination at Liege Airport. The crew consulted with Atlas Air operations during the flight and received clearance to proceed to Liege for landing.
Upon landing, a post-flight inspection revealed further details of the damage. The aircraft’s vertical stabilizer sustained a penetration, likely from a large hailstone.
Moreover, the radome was significantly deformed, and numerous hail impact marks were visible across the entire aircraft fuselage.
Featured Image via JACDEC