Air India Express Boeing 737 MAX 8 flight traveling from Hyderabad to Phuket experienced a technical issue shortly after landing at Phuket International Airport in Thailand on Wednesday. The aircraft reportedly suffered a nose-wheel malfunction, forcing airport authorities to temporarily shut down the runway and begin safety inspections. Despite the alarming situation, all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
The aircraft involved in the incident was a Boeing 737 MAX8 operating as flight IX938. According to flight tracking data, the plane departed from Hyderabad at around 6:42 AM, slightly later than its scheduled departure time of 6:20 AM. The flight landed at Phuket International Airport at approximately 11:40 AM local time.
Shortly after touchdown, the aircraft developed a problem with its front landing gear, commonly known as the nose wheel. The nose wheel is a crucial component of an aircraft’s landing gear system as it supports the front section of the plane and helps maintain direction during taxiing, takeoff, and landing.
Air India Express confirmed the incident in an official statement. The airline said the Hyderabad–Phuket flight experienced a nose-wheel issue after landing, but the crew followed all standard safety protocols. Passengers were safely deplaned and escorted to the terminal building while airport authorities secured the runway area.
Images circulating on social media showed the aircraft positioned on the runway with visible damage to the front landing gear. The plane reportedly remained stationary on the runway for some time, which led authorities to temporarily suspend operations at the airport.
Phuket International Airport operates with a single runway, so the incident caused disruption to several arriving and departing flights. According to aviation tracking platform Flightradar, the runway was closed for several hours as officials worked to remove the aircraft and conduct safety checks. Airport authorities later indicated that operations were expected to resume later in the day once the runway had been cleared and inspected.
Preliminary reports from aviation officials suggest the aircraft may have experienced a suspected hard landing during touchdown on Runway 9. In aviation terms, a hard landing occurs when an aircraft hits the runway with greater vertical speed and force than normal, potentially placing significant stress on the landing gear.
A senior official from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated that the aircraft may have bounced during landing, which could have contributed to the damage. Reports also indicated that the nose wheels detached after the landing impact, leaving the aircraft stuck on the runway.
Authorities from India and Thailand are expected to jointly investigate the incident. Investigators will review flight data, landing parameters, and the aircraft’s maintenance records to determine the exact cause of the malfunction.
Emergency response teams at Phuket Airport quickly responded to the situation and ensured the safe evacuation of passengers. Airline officials confirmed that none of the passengers or crew members sustained injuries during the incident.
The aviation safety review will now focus on understanding whether the issue was caused by the landing impact, a mechanical fault, or another technical factor. Such investigations are standard procedure following any landing gear-related incident.
Summary – Key Highlights:
An Air India Express Boeing 737 MAX8 operating flight IX938 from Hyderabad to Phuket suffered a nose-wheel malfunction after landing at Phuket International Airport. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported. The incident forced a temporary closure of the airport’s only runway, causing disruption to flight operations. Initial reports suggest a suspected hard landing, and aviation authorities from India and Thailand have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause.