Passengers and crew onboard an Austrian Airlines flight experienced a harrowing landing on Sunday as the aircraft flew through a severe thunderstorm, resulting in damage to the plane's nose and cockpit windows.

The incident occurred as the flight was en route from Spain's Balearic Islands to Austria. According to a spokesperson from Austrian Airlines, the aircraft encountered a thunderstorm cell during its approach to Vienna, which was not visible on the weather radar.

Photos captured the extent of the damage to the Austrian Airlines Airbus A320 plane, revealing a torn-off nose cone and cracked cockpit windows. Fortunately, no passengers were injured during the incident.

FlightAware.com data indicates that Austrian Airlines Flight 34 departed the Balearic Islands at 3:40 p.m. CET and was scheduled to land in Vienna at around 6 p.m. local time. However, the storm's damage prompted the crew to issue a distress call.

Passenger Karl Boentner shared his account of the terrifying experience on social media, describing how the plane "lurched up and down several times" during the approach to Vienna. It was only when the crew announced the difficult landing ahead that the passengers truly understood the severity of the situation.

Boentner praised the pilots and crew for their exemplary actions, maintaining calmness and ensuring the safety of everyone onboard. Emergency crews were prepared to meet the aircraft on the runway, as it was unable to taxi to the terminal without assistance.

Austrian Airlines has acknowledged the significant damage caused by hail to the cockpit windows, nose cone, and other parts of the aircraft. Investigation and repair efforts are currently underway to determine the full extent of the damage and ensure the aircraft's airworthiness.

The incident serves as a reminder of the unexpected and potentially dangerous weather conditions that pilots and their crews face during flights. Despite the challenges encountered, the professionalism and preparedness displayed by the Austrian Airlines team ensured the safe landing of the aircraft.

Passengers and crew will now reflect on the dramatic landing as a tale of resilience and gratitude for their safe arrival.