Air India flight's nose gear snags at Phuket airport, 133 passengers evacuated safely

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): An Air India Express flight suffered a technical malfunction while landing at Thailand's Phuket International Airport on Wednesday. The plane's nose gear broke off as it landed, forcing the runway to be closed for a short time. However, the relief is that all 133 passengers on board are safe and no injuries have been reported.

According to reports, an Air India Express Boeing 737 Max-8 aircraft had flown from Hyderabad to Phuket. As the plane landed on the runway, the nose wheel detached and the front landing gear was damaged due to the powerful impact. Following the incident, airport officials temporarily closed the runway as a precaution, impacting several other flights.

Emergency protocols were immediately implemented following the incident, and all passengers on board were safely evacuated. Air India Express issued a statement saying that the flight crew followed all standard safety procedures and safely disembarked the passengers. Following the incident, the plane remained on the runway, and airport authorities began an investigation. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) may also take cognizance of the incident, as it involves an Indian airline flight.

It is noteworthy that the Boeing 737 Max-8 aircraft has previously been in the news internationally for technical issues. Therefore, a detailed investigation into this incident is likely. Photos of the aircraft have also surfaced on social media, showing damage to the nose gear.