An investigation has been launched after the nose of a Paraguay plane was destroyed during a severe storm, and it was forced to make an emergency landing.
The LATAM Airlines Paraguay plane got caught in severe weather while flying to Asuncion from Santiago de Chile late on Wednesday night.
As it passed through the storm, the nose of the Airbus A320 shattered and the windscreen was pelted so hard it started to crack.
Videos shared on social media showed the plane violently shaking, as lightning flashed outside and passengers screamed.
American TV meteorologist Joel Young shared one of the videos, saying: “Horrifying video from inside a plane beaten by a hailstorm over Paraguay.
“The plane miraculously landed without a motor and extreme damage to its windshield.”
Paraguayan television network Telefuturo reported that 48 people were on board the flight.
The aircraft made a successful emergency landing around 11pm local time, with the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics of Chile saying this was “due to extreme and unforeseen weather conditions”.
The nose was destroyed and the windscreen cracked. Pic: LATAM
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“Both passengers and crew are in good condition,” LATAM Airlines Paraguay added in a statement.
The incident has caused Paraguay’s aviation body, the National Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DINAC) to launch an investigation.
“This issue is under investigation, both on the DINAC side and on the side of the airline,” the head of the authority, Felix Kanasawa said.