On March 11, 2026, Thailand’s Phuket airport had to temporarily close its runway due to an incident involving an Air India Express plane. The airline's Flight AXB938, which flew in from Hyderabad, India, encountered a significant malfunction upon landing, specifically with its nose wheel. This malfunction resulted in damage to the aircraft's landing gear, creating a situation that required emergency response and runway closure to manage the disabled plane safely. The landing occurred around 11.40 am local time, and images revealed the severity of the incident, showing part of the plane’s landing gear missing and leaving a long skid mark on the runway. Following the incident, the airline confirmed that the crew adhered to standard protocols, ensuring that all passengers were safely deplaned without reported injuries. After the aircraft was cleared from the runway, normal flight operations resumed at Phuket airport. Air India Express, which is part of the larger Air India Group, has faced scrutiny in recent years for various technical defects. A report from India’s civil aviation ministry indicated that Air India Express reported 95 technical defects from January to November of the previous year, suggesting ongoing concerns regarding the airline's maintenance practices. Moreover, a stark revelation from a parliamentary report indicated that a majority of the aircraft within the Air India Group's fleet had recurring technical issues. Such persistent issues have heightened concerns regarding the airline's operational safety, particularly in light of previous serious incidents, including a fatal crash in Ahmedabad that resulted in a significant loss of life. Investigations into safety practices following the Ahmedabad disaster are ongoing, and they continue to attract attention and criticism from both the public and regulatory authorities. In this context, the malfunction of Flight AXB938 emphasizes the need for rigorous maintenance protocols and thorough safety checks across all aircraft in the Air India Group. Further inquiries regarding this incident may shed light on systemic technical failures and aim to prevent similar occurrences in the future.