Air India Express Plane Damaged at Phuket Airport After Chaotic Landing

Published: March 11, 2026
The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Flight operations at Phuket International Airport were disrupted on Wednesday after an Air India Express aircraft suffered a hard and chaotic landing, damaging its landing gear and closing the airport’s single runway for several hours. The incident involved Flight IX938, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 that had been operating from Hyderabad, India, to Phuket, Thailand.

The aircraft touched down shortly before midday local time, but struck the runway hard, severely damaging its nose and front landing gear. Photographs from the scene and official statements indicate the aircraft was left stranded on the runway, unable to move under its own power.

There were 131 passengers, two infants and seven crew members on board. Airport officials confirmed that all on board were evacuated safely without injury and taken to a secure passenger area while emergency teams secured the aircraft and runway.

Phuket Airport’s only runway was closed temporarily as crews worked to remove the damaged aircraft and inspect the surface for any structural damage. Because the airport operates with a single runway, the closure forced the suspension of all arrivals and departures, causing significant disruption to flight schedules throughout the afternoon.

Local police and airport emergency services responded swiftly, coordinating the safe deplaning of passengers and crowd control. Authorities advised travellers with scheduled flights to check with their airlines for updated departure and arrival information, as the backlog of delayed flights was expected to persist even after the runway reopened.

The airline confirmed the aircraft experienced a nose‑wheel problem on landing, which left it “stuck on the runway” and triggered the operational pause. Air India Express officials said the flight crew followed all standard safety protocols during and after the landing, contributing to the successful evacuation.

At the time of writing, investigations are underway to determine the precise cause of the landing gear failure and hard touchdown. The airport authority and airline have pledged to cooperate with aviation safety agencies as they analyse flight data and inspection reports.

Passengers affected by the disruption were advised to contact their respective airlines for assistance with re‑booking, accommodation or compensation where applicable. Airlines operating at Phuket are working to manage the knock‑on effects of delays and diversions caused by the runway closure.

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