Created Tuesday, Nov 17th 2020 12:32Z, last updated Wednesday, Nov 18th 2020 22:00Z
An Azul Linhas Aereas Airbus A320-200N, registration PR-YRQ performing flight
AD-4194 from Curitiba,PR to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont,RJ (Brazil) with 135 passengers and 6 crew, was on approach to Santos Dumont Airport descending through about 4500 feet about 20nm out when the crew aborted the approach due to a hail strike, climbed back to 7000 feet and diverted to Rio de Janeiro's Galeao Airport. The aircraft landed safely on Galeao's runway 15 about 25 minutes later.
The aircraft is still on the ground at Rio de Janeiro's International Airport about 37 hours after landing.
On Nov 18th 2020 Brazil's CENIPA reported the aircraft was climbing between FL200 and FL270 out of Curitiba when the aircraft flew through heavy formations with heavy rain, turbulence and probable hail. Later, during the descent towards Rio de Janeiro, the crew observed a lag in the first officer's speed indications. The crew declared emergency and diverted to Galeao. The aircraft received minor damage limited to the radome.
Metars:
SBRJ 160100Z 19004KT 9999 FEW020 25/23 Q1010=
SBRJ 160000Z 18009KT 9999 FEW006 25/23 Q1010=
SBRJ 152300Z 19009KT 9999 FEW006 FEW030TCU 25/23 Q1010=
SBRJ 152200Z 19012KT 9999 FEW006 FEW030TCU 25/23 Q1009=
SBRJ 152100Z 18016KT 9999 FEW009 SCT015 FEW030TCU 25/23 Q1008=
SBRJ 152000Z 17016KT 9999 FEW009 FEW030TCU 26/23 Q1008=
SBRJ 151900Z 18018KT 9999 FEW008 FEW030TCU 27/24 Q1008=
SBRJ 151800Z 17016KT 9999 FEW008 FEW030TCU 27/24 Q1008=
The damaged nose:
