Air India Express 737 Severely Damaged in Muscat Rejected Takeoff

An Air India Express Boeing 737-800, registration VT-AXR, was severely damaged following a rejected takeoff at Muscat International Airport on May 15, 2026. The aircraft, operating flight IX712 from Muscat to Kannur, India, was preparing for a night departure when the crew mistakenly aligned the aircraft with the runway edge lights rather than the centerline of runway 26L, according to reports from Aviation A2Z and NDTV.

As the aircraft accelerated, it collided with multiple runway edge lights, resulting in damage to the nose landing gear and a flat tire. Debris from the light fixtures was subsequently ingested into both engines, causing severe engine damage and a failure of hydraulic system A. The flight crew reported hearing a "loud bang" in the cockpit and immediately rejected the takeoff. All passengers and crew were evacuated on the runway and transported back to the terminal; no injuries or fatalities were reported.

Investigation Underway

Oman's Air Accidents Investigation Sector, under the Oman Transport Safety Bureau, has officially classified the occurrence as an accident and opened a formal investigation. Air India Express stated it is cooperating fully with the authorities. The aircraft remained grounded in Muscat for more than nine days due to the extent of the damage. A replacement aircraft operated the Muscat-Kannur flight the following day, departing more than 13 hours behind schedule.