An Air India Express flight carrying around 138 passengers experienced a severe landing incident at Phuket International Airport in Thailand on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Flight IX938, operating from Hyderabad to Phuket, suffered a nose landing gear malfunction upon touchdown. Despite the significant structural damage to the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated directly onto the runway without any serious injuries. Authorities have immediately launched a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident.
What happened during the flight landing?
The aircraft performed a hard landing on Runway 09 at approximately 11:24 AM local time. According to the reports and flight tracking data, the plane bounced heavily upon touchdown, leading to the detachment of both nose wheels. The nose gear strut then scraped directly against the runway surface, causing the aircraft to skid for several hundred meters before it finally stopped. The intense impact resulted in structural damage to the nose area, including the buckling of the lower fuselage skin.
How did the authorities and airline respond?
- Airport authorities at Phuket immediately activated emergency protocols and closed the runway for several hours.
- An Air India Express spokesperson confirmed the issue with the nose wheel and stated that the flight crew followed standard safety procedures.
- India Directorate General of Civil Aviation is working alongside Thai aviation authorities and Boeing to conduct a thorough probe into the mechanical failure.
- The damaged aircraft was towed to a maintenance bay, allowing the runway to reopen for normal operations by the evening.
