Hail can be found higher than cruising altitude. Remember, it forms by riding updrafts in large storm clouds. Those updrafts don't stop blowing based on what's

Hail can be found higher than cruising altitude. Remember, it forms by riding updrafts in large storm clouds. Those updrafts don't stop blowing based on what's going on with the hail. That said, I really doubt this was hail. The pilot is said to have seen something coming, which is probably why they are focused on a weather balloon payload now.