✈️ What happened
- On 11 March 2026, an Air India Express Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating flight IX938 flew from Hyderabad to Phuket.
- During landing at Phuket airport, the aircraft touched down very hard, causing major stress on the landing gear.
- The nose landing gear failed, and in some reports, the nose wheels detached after impact.
- The aircraft skidded along the runway and became immobilized.
🛫 Impact on the airport
- Phuket airport’s runway was closed for several hours due to the damaged aircraft.
- Many flights were delayed or diverted, affecting airport operations significantly.
🔍 Cause
- The airline confirmed the issue was related to a nose wheel malfunction during landing.
- Investigations are ongoing to determine whether it was due to:
- mechanical failure
- or the severity of the landing
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