PIA A320 at Lahore on Oct 8th 2014, cracked windshield

A PIA Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration AP-BLB performing flight PK-203 from Lahore (Pakistan) to Dubai (United Arab Emirates), was climbing out of Lahore's runway 36R when the crew stopped the climb at about FL175 due to a cracked windshield. The aircraft returned to Lahore for a safe landing about 30 minutes after departure.

A replacement Airbus A310-300 registration AP-BGR reached Dubai with a delay of 9 hours.

Officials report one windshield of the aircraft cracked. No external influence was involved, in particular no external object impacted the windshield.

Some Pakistani media claim both windshields and the radome received damage as result of the aircraft flying through hail.

Metars:

OPLA 080825Z 08008KT 4000 -TSRA FEW030CB BKN040 OVC100 23/17 Q1014

OPLA 080755Z 11010KT 4000 -TSRA FEW030CB BKN040 OVC100 23/17 Q1014 TEMPO 34030KT 2000

OPLA 080725Z 19012KT 4000 -TSRA FEW030CB BKN040 OVC100 24/15 Q1016

OPLA 080655Z 04011KT 4000 TS FEW030CB SCT040 BKN100 27/15 Q1014 TEMPO 34020KT 2000 TSRA FEW030CB

OPLA 080638Z 03015KT 4000 TS FEW030CB SCT040 BKN100 27/16 Q1014

OPLA 080625Z 03013KT 5000 FU SCT040 SCT100 27/16 Q1014

OPLA 080555Z 02015KT 5000 FU SCT040 SCT100 27/16 Q1015 TEMPO 34020KT 2000 TSRA FEW030CB

OPLA 080455Z 35008KT 5000 FU SCT040 BKN100 27/16 Q1015 TEMPO 34020KT 2000 -TSRA FEW030CB

OPLA 080425Z 07008KT 7000 SCT040 27/16 Q1014

OPLA 080355Z 08007KT 8000 FEW100 26/16 Q1014 A29.92 NOSIG