Beware of Falling Ice: It Might Not Be What You Think

The Dangers of Falling Ice from Planes

During rain, tiny ice pellets often fall alongside raindrops, commonly known as hail. Children sometimes pick these up to eat. However, caution is advised, as these ice pieces could actually be frozen urine that has fallen from an aircraft.

Airplanes are equipped with tanks to collect waste, but occasionally, this waste can leak out. A notable incident occurred in 2006 involving Andy and Gennor Swan, who found what they initially thought was hail on their roof. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was frozen urine that had fallen from a plane.

For years, rumors have circulated that all waste from planes is released from below and sometimes lands on the ground. Modern aircraft do store waste in tanks, but mishaps can occur, leading to what is referred to as 'blue ice.'

There have been multiple reports of waste falling to the ground in this manner. In the case of Andy and Gennor, a block measuring 18 inches landed on their roof while they were in their garden.

Andy recounted that when the ice hit their roof, it made a loud noise, causing some damage. Initially, he thought it was hail, but later discovered it was a frozen urine cube from an aircraft.

A similar incident happened to Stephanie Cole, who experienced a similar event when a block of ice fell on her car outside her home. This too was a piece of frozen urine from a plane.

In both instances, the homeowners suffered significant damage, yet they received no compensation from the airline.