An Air India Express flight from Hyderabad made a hard landing at Phuket International Airport on Wednesday, resulting in significant damage to the aircraft’s nose landing gear. All 138 people on board, including 131 passengers and seven crew members, were evacuated safely after the Boeing 737 MAX 8 came to a halt on the runway.
Air India Express Plane Stuck On Phuket Runway#AirIndiaExpress #PhuketAirport #FlightIncident #RunwayIncident #AviationNews #AirTravel #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/1BnYDQ4pkX
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The incident involving flight IX-938 occurred during a midday arrival under conditions that are now part of an official inquiry. Local aviation authorities reported that the nose wheel sustained structural damage upon touchdown, leaving the aircraft disabled and blocking the airport’s primary landing strip.
Operations at Phuket International Airport were suspended for several hours to facilitate the removal of the aircraft and a mandatory safety inspection of the tarmac. Several incoming international flights were diverted to Krabi and Bangkok while ground crews worked to clear the scene and assess runway integrity.
An Air India Express spokesperson confirmed the technical issue during landing and stated that the crew followed standard emergency protocols to ensure passenger safety. The airline has begun coordinating with local authorities to assist affected travelers and arrange alternative transport for those booked on the return flight to India.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation is expected to work with Thai investigators to determine whether the hard landing was caused by weather factors or technical failure.
