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Air India Express Jet Loses Wheel During Hard Landing in Thailand, Frightening Passengers
Aircraft from India to Phuket bounces on touchdown, damaging nose gear and forcing runway closure, though all passengers escape injury.
Passengers aboard an Air India Express flight arriving in Thailand experienced a frightening landing when the aircraft lost part of its landing gear after touching down at Phuket International Airport.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8, operating as Air India Express flight IX938 from Hyderabad in southern India, made a hard landing on the runway after arriving at Phuket.
Witnesses on board said the aircraft bounced several times during the landing before coming to a stop on the runway, causing alarm among passengers inside the cabin.
The impact damaged the aircraft’s nose landing gear assembly, with reports indicating that the nose wheel detached during the incident.
The aircraft was left unable to taxi under its own power and remained on the runway following the landing.
Airport authorities temporarily suspended flight operations at Phuket International Airport while crews worked to secure the aircraft and clear the runway.
Several inbound flights were diverted to nearby airports during the disruption as safety teams assessed the situation and removed the damaged jet.
Despite the dramatic landing, no injuries were reported among passengers or crew members.
Aviation officials said all individuals on board were safely disembarked from the aircraft once it came to a halt on the runway.
The flight had departed Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad earlier in the day and completed a journey of roughly three and a half hours before arriving in Thailand.
Authorities and airline representatives have begun reviewing the circumstances surrounding the landing.
Hard landings can occur when an aircraft approaches the runway at excessive speed or with unstable descent conditions, placing unusual stress on landing gear components.
The incident underscores the importance of strict safety procedures and inspection protocols in modern aviation.
Although rare, landing gear damage during a hard touchdown can lead to significant operational disruptions at busy airports, particularly when an aircraft becomes immobilized on the runway.
Phuket International Airport, one of Thailand’s busiest gateways for international tourism, resumed normal operations after the aircraft was secured and the runway cleared.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8, operating as Air India Express flight IX938 from Hyderabad in southern India, made a hard landing on the runway after arriving at Phuket.
Witnesses on board said the aircraft bounced several times during the landing before coming to a stop on the runway, causing alarm among passengers inside the cabin.
The impact damaged the aircraft’s nose landing gear assembly, with reports indicating that the nose wheel detached during the incident.
The aircraft was left unable to taxi under its own power and remained on the runway following the landing.
Airport authorities temporarily suspended flight operations at Phuket International Airport while crews worked to secure the aircraft and clear the runway.
Several inbound flights were diverted to nearby airports during the disruption as safety teams assessed the situation and removed the damaged jet.
Despite the dramatic landing, no injuries were reported among passengers or crew members.
Aviation officials said all individuals on board were safely disembarked from the aircraft once it came to a halt on the runway.
The flight had departed Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad earlier in the day and completed a journey of roughly three and a half hours before arriving in Thailand.
Authorities and airline representatives have begun reviewing the circumstances surrounding the landing.
Hard landings can occur when an aircraft approaches the runway at excessive speed or with unstable descent conditions, placing unusual stress on landing gear components.
The incident underscores the importance of strict safety procedures and inspection protocols in modern aviation.
Although rare, landing gear damage during a hard touchdown can lead to significant operational disruptions at busy airports, particularly when an aircraft becomes immobilized on the runway.
Phuket International Airport, one of Thailand’s busiest gateways for international tourism, resumed normal operations after the aircraft was secured and the runway cleared.
