An Air India Express aircraft sustained damage after making a hard landing at Phuket International Airport on Wednesday, leading to a temporary disruption of airport operations. Reports indicated that the aircraft’s nose landing gear was damaged during the landing. Following the incident, airport authorities closed the affected runway and issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) to inform airlines and pilots about the situation. Officials announced that the runway would remain closed until 6 pm local time while inspections and necessary safety measures were carried out to ensure secure flight operations.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact number of passengers who were on board when the incident occurred. The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by Air India Express. Images of the damaged plane soon appeared on social media platforms, showing the aircraft stationary on the runway with its broken nose wheel separated and lying nearby. The visuals quickly drew attention online, raising concerns among aviation observers and travellers regarding the condition of the aircraft following the landing and the measures being taken to address the situation.
The nose wheel is a crucial component of an aircraft’s landing gear system. It plays a key role in guiding the plane during ground movement and provides support to the front portion of the aircraft while taxiing on the runway. This component also helps pilots maintain control when the aircraft is taking off or landing. Damage to the nose gear can affect manoeuvrability and ground handling, which is why aviation authorities typically halt runway operations and conduct safety checks before allowing further flights to use the affected area.
An Air India Express spokesperson confirmed that the flight operating between Hyderabad and Phuket experienced an issue involving the nose wheel upon arrival. According to the airline, the flight crew followed all established safety procedures and ensured that passengers safely disembarked from the aircraft. The airline also expressed appreciation for the cooperation extended by travellers, airport authorities in Phuket and other stakeholders who assisted in managing the situation. Officials emphasised that standard safety protocols were implemented to handle the incident and maintain passenger safety.
The aircraft involved was operating as Flight IX 938 from Hyderabad to Phuket. According to the flight tracking platform Flightradar24, the plane departed from Hyderabad at 6:42 am, slightly later than its scheduled departure time of 6:20 am. The aircraft eventually landed at Phuket International Airport at around 11:40 am local time. Airport authorities and airline officials are expected to continue their assessment of the aircraft and runway conditions following the hard landing incident.