Air India Express flight IX938 encountered a hard landing at Phuket International Airport on Wednesday. The aircraft arrived from Hyderabad with 133 passengers onboard. However, the landing caused damage to the nose landing gear during touchdown. Consequently, airport authorities temporarily shut the runway for safety inspections.
The incident created immediate operational challenges at the busy airport. Authorities quickly began safety procedures after the aircraft stopped on the runway. Moreover, airport teams started inspecting the area to ensure safe conditions for future flights.
Airport officials then halted runway operations to prevent further risks. As a result, the runway remained closed for nearly six hours. Officials planned reopening after completing inspection and clearance procedures. Eventually, authorities expected runway operations to resume around 6 pm local time.
Phuket International Airport has been temporarily closed following a landing incident involving Air India Express flight IX938.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 (Reg: VT-BWQ) from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport reportedly suffered a nose wheel failure on landing, leaving the aircraft… pic.twitter.com/I8IoyQrYfs
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) March 11, 2026
Passengers Exit Safely After Landing Incident
Despite the hard landing, the crew ensured passenger safety throughout the situation. The aircraft crew followed standard aviation safety procedures immediately after landing. Therefore, passengers exited the aircraft calmly and safely.
All 133 passengers disembarked from the aircraft without injuries. Airline officials confirmed that everyone left the aircraft safely. Moreover, airport emergency teams stayed on standby during the process.
Passengers waited while authorities assessed the runway and aircraft condition. Meanwhile, airport officials coordinated closely with airline representatives during the incident response.
Nose Wheel Issue Triggered Hard Touchdown
Initial reports suggested that a nose wheel issue caused the landing difficulty. The aircraft experienced the technical problem during the landing sequence. Consequently, the aircraft touched down harder than expected.
The damaged nose landing gear caused operational concerns for airport authorities. Therefore, officials suspended runway activity to prevent any further risks. Technical teams inspected both the aircraft and runway conditions carefully.
Authorities wanted to ensure the runway remained safe for future arrivals and departures. Thus, the airport temporarily paused operations while engineers completed their inspections.
Airline Confirms Crew Followed Protocols
Air India Express later issued an official statement regarding the incident. The airline confirmed that the aircraft experienced a nose wheel issue during landing. However, the crew handled the situation according to established safety protocols.
The airline praised the crew’s response during the incident. Additionally, the airline thanked passengers and airport authorities for cooperation during the situation.
The airline statement emphasized passenger safety as the top priority. The crew managed the event professionally and ensured orderly passenger evacuation from the aircraft.
Airport Authorities Begin Aircraft Removal
Phuket International Airport also released updates about the ongoing situation. Officials reported that recovery teams began removing the disabled aircraft from the runway. Teams worked carefully to clear the aircraft without causing further damage.
Airport authorities shared an update at around 1.30 pm local time. At that moment, teams continued operations to move the aircraft safely.
Once teams removed the aircraft completely, authorities planned to reopen the runway. However, safety checks remained necessary before resuming normal airport operations.
Airport officials advised passengers to check flight schedules before travelling to the airport. The runway closure affected several flights scheduled for arrival or departure.
Therefore, authorities recommended that travelers confirm flight status directly with airlines. This precaution helped passengers avoid unnecessary travel disruptions.
Airport officials also apologized for inconvenience caused by the temporary runway closure. Nevertheless, authorities emphasized that safety inspections remained essential after the incident.
Aviation Safety Remains the Priority
Hard landings rarely cause serious injuries when crews follow safety procedures correctly. Aviation safety training prepares flight crews to respond quickly during unexpected events. In this case, the crew’s actions helped ensure passenger safety.
Furthermore, airport authorities acted quickly to secure the runway and investigate the issue. Their swift response helped maintain safety standards at the airport.
Airlines and airports regularly conduct safety checks after such incidents. These inspections help ensure that aircraft operations remain secure for future flights.
Incident Highlights Importance of Aviation Protocols
The Phuket incident highlights the importance of strict aviation safety procedures. Pilots, crew members and airport teams must coordinate quickly during unexpected situations.
In this case, quick action prevented injuries and ensured safe passenger evacuation. Additionally, airport teams worked efficiently to restore runway operations.
Although the incident disrupted airport operations temporarily, safety remained the primary focus. Authorities prioritized passenger security and aircraft inspection before reopening the runway.
Air India Express and Phuket airport authorities continue coordinating to resolve the situation completely. Once teams complete inspections and remove the aircraft, normal flight operations will resume.
