Phuket International Airport in Thailand temporarily closed its runway on Wednesday after an Air India Express aircraft suffered a landing gear malfunction upon arrival from Hyderabad, India. The airport confirmed in a statement that Flight AXB938, a Boeing 737 Max 8, sustained damage to its landing gear as it hit the runway.
An airline spokesperson stated that the aircraft “experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket airport”, adding that “the crew followed all standard protocols, and guests were deplaned”. The flight carried 133 passengers and landed at 11:40 am local time, having departed Hyderabad at 6:42 am, slightly behind its scheduled 6:20 am departure.
Images shared by Thai state broadcaster MCOT showed part of the landing gear with a missing wheel in direct contact with the runway, leaving a long, swerving skid mark on the tarmac. No casualties were reported, and the runway was expected to reopen by 6:00 pm local time (1100 GMT).
Air India Express, the budget arm of Air India Group, has faced scrutiny over technical defects. India’s civil aviation ministry reported 95 technical defects from January to November last year, the second highest among Indian airlines. A parliamentary report also revealed that over 70% of Air India Group aircraft had recurring technical defects, the highest proportion among airlines reviewed.
The broader Air India Group has been under intense scrutiny following the deadly crash in Ahmedabad last June that killed 260 people. Investigations into that crash are ongoing, with lawsuits filed in the UK and US by victims’ families. Questions remain about whether the crash was linked to pilot action, technical failure, or maintenance issues.
