PHUKET, THAILAND – A Boeing 737-800 operated by Air India Express blocked the runway in Phuket after a hard landing, forcing a suspension of flights until the evening and disrupting around 120 connections affecting thousands of travelers.
The aircraft skidded along the asphalt
The aircraft from Hyderabad had approached for landing around midday but did not come to a stop as planned. Instead, the Boeing skidded along the runway and came to rest unable to move under its own power. Officials described the event as a hard landing that severely damaged the aircraft.
According to the account, the quick reaction of the pilots prevented a worse outcome because the wreck came to a halt within the designated safety zone. The force of the impact tore the tires across the surface until the aircraft finally stopped in a dangerous position on the airport’s only runway.
The landing gear failed under pressure
After the initial ground contact, the front landing gear collapsed and became wedged in the asphalt. Because the aircraft could no longer taxi on its own, it blocked the most important artery of the international airport. Technicians began examining the exact cause of the defect.
This mechanical damage made a simple clearance of the runway impossible, as the several-tonne aircraft could not simply be towed without a stable nose wheel. Specialist teams first had to secure the structural stability before the actual recovery operation could begin.
Rescue teams evacuated everyone on board safely
Despite the shock, no one on board was injured as the Boeing skidded along the runway. There were 131 passengers, two infants and seven crew members on the aircraft. Rescue teams evacuated all 140 people immediately after the plane came to a standstill.
Paramedics assisted the travelers at the terminal, while their luggage initially remained in the cargo hold. At the same time, observers praised the composed actions of the crew, who successfully prevented panic among the passengers in the cabin.
Heavy cranes carried out the recovery
Airport management ordered the immediate closure of the runway from 12:08 p.m. until an expected 6:00 p.m. During this period, recovery teams deployed heavy cranes to carefully lift the damaged aircraft from the runway. Only after its removal would safe operations be possible again.
The recovery required maximum precision to avoid further damage to the asphalt surface of the runway. Teams worked under intense time pressure, while the tropical heat on the apron further complicated the operation.
Flight schedules were thrown into disarray worldwide
The closure had major consequences for travel across the region and affected hundreds of holidaymakers. Around 120 flights were cancelled or suffered severe delays because no aircraft were allowed to take off from or land on the island. Thousands of passengers had to wait inside the terminal buildings.
Airlines attempted to rebook their customers manually onto later connections or alternative routes. However, there was significant uncertainty at the counters, as the exact length of the closure depended on the progress made by the heavy recovery equipment.
Krabi became a crucial fallback option
Pilots already on approach to Phuket received short-notice instructions by radio. Several aircraft instead landed at Krabi International Airport or at other nearby destinations. These diversions placed considerable strain on the capacity of neighbouring airports.
At the same time, authorities coordinated onward transport for stranded passengers by road to their original destination. This logistical effort was intended to ensure that holidaymakers could still reach their hotels or onward connections in Phuket despite the cancelled flights.