Commercial Fixed Wing
Dispatch Dispatcher
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Weather
I received an ACARS message from the crew in flight that they are returning to ZZZ due to a cracked windshield and also notifying ATC. I saw that they were at an altitude of 7000 feet and decided that it was best to just make changes to release and monitor flight untill it was safely on the ground to get details as to what occurred. I got word from the ATC Coordinator who contacted ZZZ Center that the flight encountered a hail storm while climbing out.  There were some scattered to broken CBs (cumulonimbus clouds) east of the ZZZ area at the time. The flight landed safely back at ZZZ. I did talk to the Captain briefly who said about 20 miles east of ZZZ they encountered a hail storm.
Dispatcher reported message from Flight Crew returning to departure airport due to cracked windshield.