Phuket Runway Closed for Hours After Air India Express Landing Incident.
An aircraft operated by Air India Express triggered major disruption at Phuket International Airport on Wednesday (11 March) after a hard landing left the plane stranded on the runway and forced authorities to shut the runway for several hours.
The incident occurred around noon when the airline’s Hyderabad–Phuket flight attempted to land at the Thai airport. The aircraft, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, reportedly suffered damage to its nose landing gear after a rough touchdown. Initial reports suggest the issue may have been caused by a detached wheel or severe impact during landing, leaving the aircraft unable to immediately clear the runway.
In an official statement, an Air India Express spokesperson confirmed the incident and said the crew acted according to safety procedures. “We confirm that our Hyderabad–Phuket flight on 11 March experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket Airport. The crew followed all standard protocols, and passengers were safely deplaned,” the airline said.
Airport emergency teams quickly rushed to the scene and secured the aircraft while authorities began inspecting the runway and surrounding area. All 133 passengers, including two infants, were safely escorted out of the plane and taken to the passenger waiting area inside the terminal. The aircraft was carrying 131 passengers and seven crew members at the time of the incident.
The flight had actually arrived ahead of schedule, touching down at 11:24 am, nearly 16 minutes earlier than its planned landing time of 11:40 am. However, the hard landing caused visible damage to the nose landing gear, preventing the aircraft from being moved off the runway immediately and forcing airport authorities to halt operations.
Following the incident, Phuket International Airport issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing the temporary closure of the runway from 12:08 pm to 6 pm. The shutdown, which lasted nearly five hours, disrupted normal airport operations and triggered a chain reaction in the skies above southern Thailand.
Several incoming flights were forced to circle in nearby airspace while waiting for clearance to land, while others had to be diverted to alternate airports as authorities worked to remove the disabled aircraft and ensure the runway was safe for further operations.
Airport officials coordinated with ground teams, aviation safety authorities and airline representatives to manage the situation. Specialized crews were deployed to tow the aircraft and conduct safety inspections of the runway surface before reopening it for regular flight operations.
Despite the dramatic runway shutdown and operational chaos, no injuries were reported, and passengers and crew members were safely evacuated from the aircraft.
Authorities are now expected to conduct a detailed technical examination to determine the exact cause of the hard landing and the resulting landing gear failure.
