International airport closes as Air India plane skids off runway with horrifying damage
Airport authorities have warned that the runway is likely to remain shut for some time
The plane is still on the runway(Image: @fl360aero/X)
One of Asia’s busiest airports has been forced to close its only runway after a dramatic emergency landing caused major damage to the aircraft’s nose and front landing gear.
Phuket International Airport, which handles more than 17million passengers annually, has been brought to a standstill in the early hours of Wednesday (March 11), following the incident, which involved a Air India Express flight from Hyderabad.
Flight IX938, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, touched down at 04:24 UTC before coming to a stop on the tarmac with its front landing gear collapsed, according to images uploaded to social media, reports The Mirror.
Airport authorities have warned that the runway is likely to remain shut for some time while the aircraft is removed and safety inspections are carried out.
Flight-tracking service FlightRadar24 confirmed the closure, noting that photographs from the scene show the jet stranded on the runway with significant damage to its forward section. The disruption is expected to affect both domestic and international services at one of Thailand’s busiest tourist airports.
“The only runway at Phuket Airport is closed after a landing incident involving Air India Express flight #IX938 (Boeing 737 MAX 8 with registration VT-BWQ). The aircraft landed at 04:24 UTC and pictures in social media show the aircraft on the runway with it’s front landing gear damaged.”
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