Operations at Phuket International Airport were temporarily disrupted on Wednesday after an Air India Express aircraft experienced a hard landing while arriving from Hyderabad, resulting in damage to its landing gear and the temporary closure of the airport’s runway.
The incident involved Air India Express flight AXB938, operating from Hyderabad to Phuket. The flight was operated by a Boeing 737-800, registered VT-BWQ, carrying 7 crew members, 131 passengers, and 2 infants.
Preliminary findings suggest the aircraft experienced a hard landing during touchdown, which resulted in damage to the nose landing gear. Due to the damage, the aircraft was unable to vacate the runway immediately after landing.
All passengers and crew were safely disembarked, and no injuries were reported.
Airline Confirms Nose Wheel Issue
Following the incident, Air India Express issued a brief statement confirming a technical issue related to the aircraft’s nose wheel during the landing.
The airline stated: “We confirm that our Hyderabad-Phuket flight on 11 March experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket Airport. The crew followed all standard protocols, and guests were deplaned. We thank our guests, the Phuket airport authorities, and all stakeholders for their cooperation.”
Runway Closure and Operational Impact
As the aircraft remained on the runway following the landing, Phuket International Airport issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing a temporary runway closure.
The NOTAM was issued at 12:08 PM local time, with the runway scheduled to remain closed until 6:00 PM to allow airport authorities to conduct aircraft recovery operations and carry out runway safety inspections.
Phuket Airport operates with a single runway, meaning the closure temporarily affected both arriving and departing flights, leading to delays and operational adjustments across the airport.
