Phuket International Airport Runway Shut Following Dramatic Hard Landing Incident
Phuket International Airport, one of Thailand's busiest tourist hubs handling over 17 million passengers annually, has closed its sole runway after an Air India Express aircraft suffered a dramatic hard landing that caused significant structural damage. The incident occurred during the early hours of Wednesday morning, March 11, 2026, when Flight IX938 from Hyderabad touched down at 04:24 UTC.
Aircraft Sustains Significant Damage to Front Section
The Boeing 737 MAX 8, registered as VT-BWQ, came to rest on the tarmac with its front landing gear completely collapsed, according to multiple images circulating on social media platforms. Photographs from the scene clearly show the aircraft stranded on Runway 09 with substantial damage to its nose section and forward landing gear components.
Air India Express confirmed that all standard safety protocols were followed during the incident, with passengers successfully deplaned from the aircraft. While the exact number of people on board remains unconfirmed at this time, the narrow-body twin-engine jet typically accommodates approximately 180 passengers in addition to crew members.
Major Disruption Expected at Popular Tourist Gateway
Airport authorities have issued warnings that the runway closure is likely to persist for an extended period while recovery operations proceed. The aircraft must be carefully removed from the active runway before comprehensive safety inspections can be conducted to assess any potential damage to the runway surface itself.
Flight-tracking service FlightRadar24 has officially confirmed the runway closure, noting that the disruption will significantly impact both domestic and international flight operations at this critical Southeast Asian transportation hub. Phuket International Airport serves as a primary gateway for millions of international tourists, including substantial numbers of British travelers visiting Thailand's popular resort destinations.
Technical Details of the Landing Gear System
The nose wheel assembly represents a crucial component within an aircraft's comprehensive landing gear system. Like most commercial aircraft designs, the Boeing 737 configuration incorporates two nose wheels along with two sets of dual wheels for the main landing gear. The complete failure of the forward landing gear during this incident highlights the severity of the hard landing impact forces experienced by the aircraft structure.
Airport officials continue to coordinate with Air India Express representatives and aviation authorities to develop a comprehensive recovery plan while minimizing disruption to the airport's extensive flight schedule. The incident marks another significant operational challenge for the aviation industry in the region, particularly affecting one of Thailand's most important tourism infrastructure facilities during peak travel periods.
