Thai Airways Faced A Spree of Emergency Landings Raising Questions about Future of Air Travel: What You Need to Know

Published on November 24, 2025

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) is the flag carrier of Thailand. While the airline is known for its safety record and service, the period from January 2022 to November 2025 witnessed a handful of serious incidents that forced crews to divert or return aircraft as a precaution. These incidents were rare in the context of THAI’s operations but attracted attention because they highlighted the importance of crew training, equipment integrity and regulatory oversight. The following chronology summarises the confirmed emergency landings or landing‑related events that were publicly reported by safety agencies and the airline during the specified period. Minor ground incidents or delayed departures are excluded unless they led to a landing emergency.

April 2022: Tyre Deflation After Landing in Bengaluru

Shortly after the pandemic restrictions eased, THAI resumed long‑haul flights. In late April 2022 flight TG325, a Boeing 787‑8 from Bangkok to Bengaluru, landed normally at Kempegowda International Airport in India. While the aircraft was taxiing to the gate, ground staff noticed that one of the tyres had deflated. Airport officials said the tyre deflation occurred after landing and that all passengers disembarked safely[1]. The aircraft remained on the ground for maintenance and passengers on the onward flight to Bangkok were rebooked. Although this event did not require an emergency landing, it was the only reported landing‑related technical issue for THAI in 2022.

June 2023: Taxiway Contact at Tokyo Haneda

During 2023 there were no emergency landings by THAI aircraft, but a ground incident occurred that underscored the importance of safe manoeuvring. On 10 June 2023, flight TG683 from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to Bangkok, an Airbus A330‑300, was taxiing for departure when its right wing scraped a parked EVA Air aircraft. The carrier announced that the flight was cancelled and that all 250 passengers and 14 crew were returned to the terminal[2]. Passengers were accommodated on alternative flights, and the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau opened an investigation. Because the incident happened before take‑off, no emergency landing occurred; however, it led to a formal safety review by the airline and served as a reminder of the risks of congested taxiways.

September 2024: Runway Excursion in Bangkok

THAI’s first major landing incident during the period occurred on 14 September 2024. Flight TG466, an Airbus A350‑900 coming from Melbourne, experienced a runway excursion while landing at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. According to the preliminary notice published by the French air‑accident investigation authority (the BEA), the aircraft ran off the left side of the runway, damaging seven runway edge lights[3]. The Thai Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee (AAIIC) launched a formal inquiry. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew and the aircraft was not severely damaged, but the event was classified as a serious incident. The report noted that the investigation would focus on landing conditions, runway friction and crew actions. The airport reopened the runway after repairs, and THAI inspected its fleet for potential contributing factors. This was the only reported landing overrun involving the carrier in the three‑year window.

February 2025: Cockpit Windshield Crack on Flight TG401

On 16 February 2025, THAI flight TG401, operating from Bangkok to Singapore with an Airbus A330‑300, returned to Bangkok shortly after take‑off. The airline issued an official statement explaining that the pilot detected a crack in the outermost layer of the cockpit’s three‑layered windshield and decided to return immediately to Suvarnabhumi Airport as a precaution[4]. THAI emphasised that passenger safety was the priority. After the aircraft landed safely, passengers were transferred to a replacement flight (TG401D) and arrived in Singapore later that day. The airline apologised for the inconvenience and inspected the faulty windshield. Because windshields are multi‑layered, the inner layers remained intact, but the decision to return highlighted the crew’s adherence to safety protocols.

May 2025: Main Landing Gear Cover Issue on Flight TG922

Another emergency return occurred on 4 May 2025. Flight TG922, a Boeing 777‑300ER bound for Frankfurt, took off from Bangkok and climbed normally. Shortly after departure, the crew noticed that the main landing‑gear door did not close completely. The aircraft discharged fuel over the Gulf of Thailand to reduce weight and returned to Bangkok, landing safely at 14:12 local time[5]. After maintenance checks, the aircraft departed again for Frankfurt at 15:20. The airline said that no passengers or crew were injured and that the return was a precautionary measure. This event did not result in damage or injuries, but it demonstrated the importance of mechanical vigilance and the crew’s ability to manage fuel dumping and weight considerations during an emergency landing.

August 2025: Turbulence‑Induced Emergency Landing on Flight TG925

The most significant emergency landing in the period occurred on 20 August 2025 aboard flight TG925, an Airbus A350‑900 en route from Munich to Bangkok. According to the official accident notification published by the BEA, the aircraft encountered severe turbulence during cruise over Thailand[6]. The turbulence caused several passengers to suffer injuries—four serious and one minor—and prompted the flight crew to descend and divert for an emergency landing at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. The BEA’s preliminary summary stated that the aircraft sustained no structural damage but that the event was classified as an accident due to the injuries. The Thai Aircraft Investigation Board (AIB) took responsibility for the investigation, and the BEA announced its cooperation. Investigators planned to review weather data, flight‑path deviations and seat‑belt procedures. Following the landing, injured passengers received medical attention, and THAI provided assistance and statements about its cooperation with authorities.

Context and Analysis

These incidents reveal several themes. First, THAI’s crews acted prudently by returning to base or diverting when faced with technical anomalies. The cracked windshield in February 2025 and the landing‑gear door malfunction in May 2025 both occurred shortly after take‑off, and in each case the flight crew followed standard procedures: ascending to a safe altitude, assessing the situation, discharging fuel where necessary and returning to the departure airport. In both events, passengers were transferred to replacement flights and there were no injuries[4][5]. These decisions illustrate the airline’s adherence to risk management principles and its unwillingness to take chances with airworthiness issues.

Second, the runway excursion in September 2024 underscores the importance of runway condition monitoring and approach stability. Although the aircraft sustained only minor damage and there were no injuries, the event was classified as a serious incident because it could have led to a more severe accident. Investigators will likely examine factors such as wet runway conditions, crosswind limits and crew response. The incident also emphasised the need for constant vigilance when operating into hubs like Bangkok, where heavy rainfall and high traffic volumes can affect braking performance.

Third, the August 2025 turbulence incident demonstrates the unpredictable nature of atmospheric hazards. Even with modern weather radar, clear‑air turbulence can be difficult to detect. The injuries sustained by passengers—despite the aircraft’s lack of structural damage—highlight why seat‑belt signs and crew instructions are critical[6]. The event triggered an accident investigation because of the injuries, reinforcing the regulatory focus on passenger safety even when the aircraft is not damaged.

Finally, the minor incidents in 2022 and 2023 show that not all safety events involve flight. The tyre deflation in Bengaluru and the wing‑tip contact at Haneda[2] both occurred on the ground. While these incidents did not involve emergency landings, they prompted immediate responses from airport authorities and the airline. They also underscore the importance of ground‑handling procedures and situational awareness in congested airport environments. Such incidents, although not included in accident statistics, provide valuable lessons for training and safety culture.

Concluding Remarks

Between January 2022 and November 2025, Thai Airways International experienced a small number of emergency landings and serious incidents, all of which were investigated by government agencies and involved official airline statements. The most serious events were the runway excursion of September 2024 and the turbulence‑induced emergency landing in August 2025. In both cases, the lack of fatalities or major damage underscores the effectiveness of pilot training and aircraft resilience. Other incidents—including the cracked windshield return, the landing‑gear door malfunction and minor ground incidents—demonstrated THAI’s policy of erring on the side of caution. Collectively, these events reinforce the importance of continuous safety monitoring, transparent reporting and cooperation with national and international investigation agencies. They also highlight that emergency landings, while dramatic, are part of a robust safety system designed to protect passengers and crews when unforeseen circumstances arise.