An Air India Express flight travelling from Hyderabad to Phuket made a hard landing at Thailand’s Phuket International Airport on Wednesday, damaging the aircraft’s nose section and landing gear. Authorities confirmed that all passengers and crew were safe, with no injuries reported.
The incident involved Air India Express flight AXB938, a Boeing 737-800 (registration VT-BWQ) operating from Hyderabad (HYD) to Phuket (HKT). The aircraft was carrying 131 passengers, including seven crew members and two infants.
According to flight details, the aircraft was scheduled to land at 11:40 AM, but it touched down earlier than expected at 11:24 AM. Shortly after landing, the aircraft experienced a malfunction affecting its nose wheel, forcing airport authorities to temporarily close the runway.
Runway Closed for Several Hours
Following the incident, Phuket Airport authorities shut the runway to remove the disabled aircraft. The airport issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing the temporary closure of the runway from 12:08 PM to 6:00 PM on March 11.
In a statement issued soon after the incident, Phuket International Airport confirmed that the Air India Express aircraft had experienced a malfunction on the runway during landing. Officials assured that all safety protocols were followed and no injuries occurred.
Airport authorities added that they are coordinating with relevant agencies to manage the situation and restore normal operations.
Passengers affected by the disruption have been advised to contact their respective airlines to check flight schedules and travel updates before arriving at the airport, to avoid inconvenience.
Air India Express Confirms Nose Wheel Issue
Air India Express also released a statement acknowledging the incident.
“We confirm that our Hyderabad–Phuket flight on March 11 experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket Airport. The crew followed all standard protocols, and guests were safely deplaned,” the airline spokesperson said.
Passenger Recounts ‘Very Harsh Landing’
A passenger onboard the flight described the landing as unexpectedly rough.
Speaking to Republic, Minal Ahuja, who was travelling on the flight, said the aircraft bounced multiple times after touching down.
“It was not an expected landing. We were looking for a very smooth landing. As soon as the aircraft touched the runway, we felt it bounce two or three times,” Ahuja said.
“It felt like we were flying off our seats and then coming down again. It was a very, very harsh landing,” the passenger added.
Authorities are continuing to assess the situation while airport operations gradually return to normal.
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