Navy Aircraft Grounds Phuket Airport for Hours
A Royal Thai Navy aircraft triggered a major disruption at Phuket International Airport on Wednesday, forcing the closure of the main runway for more than three hours. The incident affected 70 flights and left thousands of passengers stranded or scrambling to rebook.
Emergency Landing at 11:18 AM
At approximately 11:18 AM, a Cessna T-337 Skymaster operated by the Royal Thai Navy, on a routine patrol, reported a landing gear malfunction. The pilot was forced to execute a belly landing—fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Airport authorities immediately activated their emergency response plan. The main runway was closed as rescue teams rushed to the scene. Initial estimates suggested the runway would remain closed until 3:00 PM.
Major Recovery Operation
A specialized team comprising Navy pilots, aircraft technicians, and airport staff began recovery operations without delay. The airport provided technical equipment, drained the aircraft’s fuel, and deployed lifting gear to remove the plane from the runway.
After two and a half hours of intensive work, the aircraft was finally towed away at 1:49 PM. Cleanup crews then cleared the runway of debris and oil residue.
Airport Reopens at 2:30 PM
By 2:30 PM, the airport announced the runway was operational again. The total closure lasted three hours and twelve minutes—significantly less than initially feared.
Nevertheless, the impact was substantial: 70 flights were diverted, delayed, or canceled, and thousands of passengers were left waiting or forced to change their travel plans. The airport advised all affected travelers to check their flight status directly with their airlines.
Navy Issues Apology
The Royal Thai Navy confirmed the aircraft was on a routine patrol and emphasized that the crew escaped unharmed—a fortunate outcome for a belly landing.
Phuket Airport apologized for the inconvenience and thanked passengers for their understanding. For one of Thailand’s busiest tourist hubs, this was a rare but highly disruptive incident.