An Air India Express Boeing 737 MAX 8 from Hyderabad executed a hard landing at Phuket International Airport on March 11, 2026, snapping its nose landing gear wheel and stranding the aircraft on the runway for five hours.
All 133 Passengers Safely Evacuated
Flight IX938, carrying 131 passengers, 7 crew, and 2 infants, touched down at 11:24 AM local time (earlier than scheduled 11:40 AM), suffering nose wheel detachment that halted taxiing; no injuries occurred as emergency teams swiftly evacuated everyone. Photos show the detached wheel on the tarmac amid swift response.
Phuket Runway Closure Disrupts Flights
Authorities issued a NOTAM closing the single runway until 6 PM for inspections and clearance, diverting arrivals and delaying departures while the VT-BWQ aircraft awaited removal. Air India Express confirmed crew protocols followed, thanking Phuket officials.
Probe Underway into Hard Landing Cause
Initial reports cite hard touchdown damaging forward gear; DGCA/AAIB investigations pending, with airline prioritizing passenger support—no prior issues noted on the route.
