One of Asia's busiest airports has been forced to close its only runway following a dramatic emergency landing that left an Air India Express aircraft with substantial damage to its nose and front landing gear.
Airport Brought to a Standstill
Phuket International Airport, which handles more than 17 million passengers annually, came to a complete standstill in the early hours of Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The incident involved Flight IX938, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 arriving from Hyderabad, India.
The aircraft touched down at 04:24 UTC before coming to rest on the tarmac with its front landing gear collapsed, according to images circulating on social media and reports from aviation authorities.
Significant Damage to Aircraft
Photographs from the scene show the jet stranded on Runway 09 with considerable damage to its forward section. The Air India Express aircraft, registered as VT-BWQ, suffered what appears to be a hard landing that damaged the entire front landing gear system.
A spokesperson for Air India Express confirmed: "The crew followed all standard protocols, and guests were deplaned safely following the incident."
Passenger Numbers Unknown
The exact number of passengers and crew members onboard the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft remains unclear. However, this narrow-body, twin-engine jet typically accommodates approximately 180 passengers in standard configuration.
Extended Runway Closure Expected
Airport authorities have warned that the runway is likely to remain closed for an extended period while recovery operations take place. The aircraft must be carefully removed from the runway, followed by comprehensive safety inspections before operations can resume.
Flight-tracking service FlightRadar24 has confirmed the closure, noting the significant disruption to both domestic and international services at one of Thailand's most important tourist airports.
Impact on Travel Operations
The closure of Phuket International Airport's sole runway is expected to cause substantial travel disruptions throughout the region. As one of Thailand's busiest airports serving millions of tourists annually, the incident will affect numerous airlines and thousands of passengers.
Aviation experts emphasize that the nose wheel represents a critical component of an aircraft's landing gear system. Like most commercial aircraft, the Boeing 737 features two nose wheels along with two sets of two wheels for the main landing gear.
The incident marks another significant event for the Boeing 737 MAX series, though initial reports suggest this was an operational incident rather than a systemic aircraft issue. Investigations will focus on determining the exact cause of the hard landing and subsequent runway excursion.
