Air Canada flight from Toronto to Calgary diverted after hail breaks windshield

An Air Canada flight travelling from Toronto to Calgary’s International Airport was forced to make an emergency landing in Lethbridge Saturday.

While flight AC1159 was landing in Calgary, pilots had to call a last-minute mayday and pull up because it had such significant hail damage to the windshield of the plane.

“Just before touchdown the plane took off again so as we’re climbing, rain and hail, the sound was crazy, it was banging on the plane, we knew there was an issue, we couldn’t land,” passenger Kate Carleton said.

Passengers were told there was a storm and they were being diverted to land in YQL – Lethbridge Airport, which is roughly 213 kilometres south of Calgary.

“When it was calm in the air the pilot came on and said ‘we’ve been really busy up here’,” passenger Steve Harmer said. “(The pilot) said ‘because of the storm, we decided not to land.'”

Fire officials said there were 149 passengers on board at the time and no injuries were reported.

Passengers did not know the extent of the plane’s damage until they were exiting the aircraft.

READ MORE: Severe thunderstorm warning in effect for Calgary and area

“Once we saw the ambulances and firefighters we realized it was a little more serious than we were aware in the air,” Harmer said.

“The windshield on the plane is cracked, I’m not sure in terms of the hail damage on the wings but the plane obviously can’t fly,” Carleton said.

Most of the 149 passengers stranded were going to stay in hotels in Lethbridge Saturday night while some rented cars and moved onto Calgary.

https://twitter.com/AllieMMiller/status/759554358333755392

https://twitter.com/AllieMMiller/status/759557876536840192

With files from Allie Miller