The massive power that can be unleashed by nature was plainly evident on the fuselage of an Emirates aircraft that landed in Milan on Tuesday.
The Boeing 777-300ER operating flight EK205 took off from Milan bound for New York, but had to return to Milan just 90 minutes into the flight after being pelted with hail during a storm.
The aircraft was at around 15,000ft climbing to 32,000 when it flew into a storm.
Cockpit crew made the decision to return to Milan and circled south of the city in an effort to burn off fuel.
Photos posted online show smashed windows, a broken aircraft nose and substantial impact damage around the engines and on the main fuselage.
Severe thunderstorms had been forecast for the region at the time.
The aircraft involved remains on the ground in Milan, passengers booked on the flight departed the following morning on another aircraft.
