A Yemenia Airbus A320 remains on the ground in Amman after it flew through a hailstorm on Monday 26 October 2026. Despite the damage, the aircraft landed safely at Queen Alia International Airport. The airline also reported no injuries among passengers or crew.
Hail Strike on Approach to Amman
The aircraft, registration 7O-AFB, was operating flight IY648 from Aden in Yemen.
According to The Aviation Herald, the jet flew into hail during its approach to Amman. However, the crew continued the approach and landed on runway 26L without further incident.
Yemeni media reports, cited by ProtoThema, said the A320 also encountered significant turbulence inside the storm. In addition, Minute Mirror reported strong winds alongside the hail. It said the captain and crew kept the aircraft under control throughout.
Damage to the Nose and Windscreen
Images shared online show clear impact damage to the nose of the aircraft. The cockpit windscreen also sustained significant damage. Sigmalive reported that the hail struck the nose radome, which houses the weather radar.
Hail damage is a serious concern for any airliner. The radome is a composite structure, so even small impacts can crack it or affect the weather radar behind it. Engineers will also normally inspect the wing leading edges, engine inlets and flight control surfaces before the aircraft returns to service.
Aircraft Remains Grounded in Amman
The Aviation Herald reported that 7O-AFB was still on the ground in Amman about 29 hours after landing. Meanwhile, Yemenia spokesperson Hatem Al-Shaabi confirmed that the aircraft would undergo maintenance there, ProtoThema reported.
As a result, the airline arranged a replacement aircraft for passengers booked from Amman to Aden. Yemen Monitor reported that those flights would depart at the times shown on existing bookings.
About 7O-AFB
Photographic records show that 7O-AFB carries manufacturer serial number 4690 and joined Yemenia in May 2011. That makes the aircraft around 15 years old. It was one of the first jets delivered from Yemenia’s firm order for ten A320s, which Airbus announced in January 2010. Readers can find its full history on Planespotters.
A Small Fleet Under Pressure
Losing 7O-AFB, even for a short time, places real strain on Yemenia. In May 2025, Israeli airstrikes on Sanaa destroyed the A320s 7O-AFA and 7O-AFC, along with an A330. Later that month, another strike destroyed 7O-AFF. After those losses, the Yemenia operation in Aden relied on just three A320s, including 7O-AFB.
Since then, Yemenia has added a fourth A320, named Kingdom of Awsan. However, Amman is a vital international gateway for Yemenia passengers, so even one grounded aircraft quickly disrupts the schedule.
What Happens Next in Amman
Engineers in Amman will now assess the full extent of the damage. If the radome and windscreen need replacing, Yemenia may have to source parts from abroad, which could extend the repair. Until that work is complete, the A320 will stay in Amman. Yemenia has not yet said when 7O-AFB will return to service.
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