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, made a hard landing at Phuket International Airport, Thailand. The aircraft, carrying 138 people, bounced upon touchdown, resulting in the detachment of both nose wheels.
The incident led to the temporary closure of the runway at Phuket International Airport for nearly seven hours. During this time, 20 flights were diverted to other airports, causing significant disruptions for travelers.
Flight IX 938 departed from Hyderabad at 6:23 AM and was scheduled to arrive in Phuket at 11:25 AM local time. The aircraft involved, registered as VT-BWQ, had undergone routine maintenance, including the replacement of the nose wheels on March 8, 2026.
Safety Measures
Following the incident, safety checks were conducted, and the runway was expected to reopen by 6 PM local time. Phuket International Airport issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) regarding the temporary closure.
Official Statements
An Air India Express spokesperson confirmed the issue with the nose wheel, stating, “We confirm that our Hyderabad-Phuket flight on March 11 experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket Airport.” Additionally, an AI Express statement 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
A senior B737 captain described the event as a clear case of a hard landing, highlighting the nose wheel damage on the second touchdown. An experienced pilot remarked, “Phuket is a tricky place to land if the winds are strong and thermals during hot afternoon time which is usually the case there.”
No injuries were reported among the passengers and crew, and all standard protocols were followed during the incident. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the long-term implications of this incident on flight operations at Phuket International Airport.
