Air India X Rough Landing: Hyd-Phuket Flight Damaged

An aircraft operated by Air India Express was involved in a hard landing incident at Phuket International Airport in Thailand on March 11. The landing reportedly damaged the aircraft’s nose landing gear and forced airport authorities to temporarily close the runway.

The aircraft involved was flight IX 938, which departed from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. The flight was carrying 133 passengers at the time of the incident.

According to reports, the flight took off at 6:42 am from Hyderabad and landed at Phuket at around 11:40 am local time. The issue occurred shortly after the aircraft touched down on the runway.

Officials said the plane experienced a problem with its nose landing gear during landing. The nose wheel reportedly broke, causing the aircraft to slide along the runway before coming to a stop.

Images from the airport showed the damaged nose wheel lying on the runway. Emergency teams and airport authorities quickly secured the area to prevent further risk.

All 133 passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft and moved to a waiting area inside the airport terminal. No injuries were reported during the evacuation process.

Airport authorities issued a Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) and temporarily closed the runway. The closure allowed officials to remove the damaged aircraft and conduct safety inspections.

After completing inspections and clearing the runway, normal operations resumed at Phuket International Airport. Flights were gradually restored once safety checks were completed.

In a statement, Air India Express confirmed the incident and said the crew followed all standard safety procedures during the landing. The airline also confirmed that a detailed investigation will be conducted.

The incident once again highlights the importance of strict maintenance checks and operational oversight in aviation. Ensuring aircraft safety remains a key priority for airlines and airport authorities.