A landing gear incident, involving an Air India Express aircraft left Phuket International Airport’s runway temporarily closed on 11 March, disrupting flights and forcing others to initially circle and then divert. The aircraft, carrying 140 people, became stranded on the runway after suffering damage during landing.
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The incident involved Air India Express flight AXB938 operating from Hyderabad (HYD) to Phuket (HKT). The aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max 8, registration VT-BWQ, scheduled to land at 11.40am but touched down earlier at 11.24am.
According to initial reports, the aircraft experienced a hard landing which burst a tyre and damaged the nose landing gear. The damage prevented the aircraft from moving away from the runway immediately after landing.
On board were seven crew members, 131 adult passengers and two infants. Authorities confirmed there were no reports of injuries among passengers or crew.
Following the incident, Phuket International Airport issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing the temporary closure of the runway. The closure was in effect from 12.08pm until 6pm on 11 March, effecting 120 flights.
The closure disrupted airport operations and forced several incoming flights to circle while awaiting updates. Some flights were also diverted to alternative airports as airport officials worked to clear the disabled aircraft and restore normal operations.
Airport authorities coordinated with relevant agencies to manage the situation and implement safety procedures. Emergency response teams were deployed to the runway while technical teams assessed the aircraft and prepared for its removal.
Officials emphasised that the airport was following strict aviation safety protocols throughout the response. The priority was to ensure the safety of passengers, crew and aircraft operating in and out of Phuket.
Hard landings occur when an aircraft touches down with greater force than normal, potentially causing stress or damage to landing gear components. Such incidents can result in aircraft being unable to taxi from the runway, leading to temporary airport closures while recovery operations take place.
Khaosod reported that airport officials are working to remove the aircraft and reopen the runway once safety checks are completed. Normal flight operations are expected to resume after the runway is cleared and aviation authorities confirm it is safe for use.
Pictures courtesy of Khaosod
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Khaosod 11 Mar 2026
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