Phuket: An Air India Express flight from Hyderabad made a hard landing at Phuket International Airport in Thailand on Wednesday, damaging the aircraft’s nose landing gear and forcing authorities to shut the runway for nearly six hours.
Flight IX938, carrying 133 passengers, landed safely despite the technical issue, and all passengers were evacuated without injuries. Airport authorities temporarily suspended runway operations while officials assessed the situation and cleared the aircraft from the runway.
Hard landing damages nose landing gear
Initial reports from airport authorities indicated that the aircraft suffered damage to its nose landing gear during landing, leading to a hard touchdown on the runway.
The aircraft involved in the incident was operating an international service between Hyderabad and Phuket.
Following the hard landing, airport officials immediately initiated safety procedures and halted runway operations to prevent further risk to other flights.
Emergency response teams and technical crews were deployed to inspect the aircraft and evaluate the extent of the damage before removing it from the runway.
Runway closed for nearly six hours
Due to the presence of the disabled aircraft on the runway, Phuket International Airport temporarily closed the runway for operations.
Airport authorities confirmed that the runway was expected to remain shut until around 6 pm local time while crews worked to remove the aircraft and complete safety inspections.
As of 1.30 pm local time, airport officials reported that teams were still working to tow the aircraft away from the runway.
The closure affected multiple flight operations, leading to delays and rescheduling for several incoming and outgoing flights.
Passengers travelling through the airport were advised to check their flight status with their respective airlines before heading to the airport.
Airport authorities also issued an apology to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the temporary suspension of operations.
Airline confirms technical issue
Air India Express later issued an official statement confirming the incident.
According to the airline, the Hyderabad–Phuket flight encountered an issue with the nose wheel during landing at Phuket International Airport.
“We confirm that on March 11, our Hyderabad–Phuket flight experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket Airport. The crew followed all standard operating procedures, and all passengers were safely deplaned,” the airline said.
The airline added that it appreciated the cooperation extended by passengers and airport authorities during the incident.
Passengers safely evacuated
All 133 passengers on board were safely deplaned following the landing.
Emergency teams at the airport ensured that passengers exited the aircraft safely and were escorted to the terminal.
Authorities confirmed that there were no injuries reported among passengers or crew members.
Passengers were later assisted by airline staff for further travel arrangements and necessary support.
Safety protocols followed
Aviation experts note that hard landings, though uncommon, can occur due to several factors such as weather conditions, technical issues, or operational challenges during landing.
In such situations, airlines and airport authorities follow strict safety protocols to ensure passenger safety and prevent additional risks to airport operations.
The immediate closure of the runway and inspection of the aircraft are standard procedures followed globally in such incidents.
Investigation and inspection underway
Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed inspection of the aircraft to determine the exact cause of the nose landing gear issue.
Maintenance teams and aviation regulators typically examine flight data, mechanical systems and operational conditions before drawing conclusions about such incidents.
Further updates are expected once the aircraft is removed and normal airport operations resume.
Despite the disruption caused by the runway closure, officials emphasised that the swift response by airport teams and airline crew helped ensure passenger safety and minimise potential risks.