‘Blind’ hero pilot lands plane with 127 passengers on board

A Ukrainian pilot has been awarded for his bravery after safely landing a plane with 127 passengers on board with a shattered windscreen.

The nose and windows of captain Alexander Akopov's AtlasGlobal Airbus A320 were severely damaged by hail last Thursday as he attempted to land in Ataturk, Istanbul.

Akopov was forced to rely entirely on his intuition after the autopilot shut down and his view screen was destroyed while his aircraft was battered by billowing wind and rain.

The airport's emergency response teams were on high alert anticipating the worst as the aircraft touched down, NewsHub reports.

Akopov received a hero's applause from passengers when he brought the plane to a halt and a phone call from Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko who personally congratulating him for his remarkable flying skills.

The hero pilot was presented the Ukrainian Order For Courage award.

Akopov said the praise felt like his "second birthday".

At least 16 aircrafts were diverted to alternate airports that day as torrential rain and flash flooding battered Istanbul.