Phuket: Air India Express Flight Incident at International Airport
Incident Overview
On March 11, 2026, an Air India Express Boeing 737 MAX, operating flight IX 938 from Hyderabad, experienced a hard landing at Phuket International Airport. The aircraft, carrying a total of 138 people, made contact with the runway at approximately 11:25 am local time, following a departure from Hyderabad at 6:23 am.
Details of the Landing
Upon landing, the aircraft bounced once, resulting in both nose wheels detaching from the plane. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the 132 passengers and 6 crew members on board. The incident prompted immediate safety protocols to be enacted, with the aircraft being towed to the bay after passengers were safely deplaned on the runway.
Runway Closure and Flight Diversions
The runway at Phuket International Airport was closed for nearly seven hours due to the incident, leading to the diversion of 20 flights to alternative airports. Phuket International Airport issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to inform about the temporary closure.
Aircraft Maintenance and Safety Checks
The aircraft involved, registered as VT-BWQ, had its nose wheels replaced just three days prior to the incident as part of routine maintenance. Safety checks were conducted, and the runway was expected to reopen by 6 pm local time after thorough inspections.
Official Statements
An Air India Express spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating, “We confirm that our Hyderabad-Phuket flight on March 11 experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket Airport.” An official statement from AI Express noted, “The nose wheels have been installed on the aircraft involved in the incident at Phuket Airport, allowing normal airport operations to resume.”
Expert Insights
Experts have weighed in on the incident, with a senior B737 captain describing it as a clear case of a hard landing, highlighting the nose wheel damage on the second touchdown. An experienced pilot added, “Phuket is a tricky place to land if the winds are strong and thermals during hot afternoon time which is usually the case there.”
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the specific causes of the hard landing, but the swift response from the crew and airport authorities has been noted as a positive aspect of the incident.
