Brazilian jet makes emergency landing after flying in hailstorm

A Brazilian commercial jet and its passengers have escaped a close call after unknowingly flying into a powerful hailstorm.

The Brazilian TAM Airlines Flight JJ 3307 took off in Rio de Janeiro en route to the Brazilian city of Natal on February 9 when it entered a "cloud of hail" at around 18,000 feet, reports local news site Odia.

Lightning had apparently damaged the plane's weather radar, leaving the pilots clueless as to what lay head.

Hail began to strike just as the plane was turning back, causing a crack in the pilot's three-layered windscreen and crushing its nose.

No injuries were reported and the flight was able to make a safe landing within 40 minutes, TAM said in a statement.

An internal investigation is underway.