The runway at Pune international airport has resumed normal flight activities after a temporary closure due to an incident involving an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft that made a hard landing during a routine night flight at Air Force Station Lohegaon. This event occurred around 10:25 PM on Friday, with both pilots unharmed and no damage reported to civilian property.
The runway was out of service for approximately nine hours while repairs and safety evaluations were conducted. IAF teams worked throughout the night to restore the runway, making it operational by 8:00 AM on Saturday. Departures began again at 7:30 AM, and arrivals resumed at 8:00 AM, with air traffic gradually returning to normal.
“The incident involved two pilots during a night sortie. Consequently, all incoming and outgoing commercial flights were suspended until the runway was cleared, which took about nine hours,” stated Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, on Saturday.
Late on Friday, the IAF indicated that the runway at Pune airport was temporarily unavailable due to the incident, which affected both inbound and outbound commercial flights.
“Pune runway is temporarily closed due to an incident with an IAF aircraft. The aircrew is safe, and there has been no damage to civil property. Efforts are being made to make the runway operational again and resume normal activities as soon as possible,” the IAF reported.
In a subsequent post on X, the Indian Air Force confirmed that the runway at Pune Airport, which had been temporarily closed due to the aircraft incident, has now been restored and is operational. All essential safety checks and clearances have been finalized, with operations resuming in a phased approach.
According to sources from the airport and police, the aircraft may have experienced an undercarriage failure upon landing, which led to the runway becoming blocked. However, official details regarding the technical specifics are yet to be disclosed.
The incident was reported to have occurred around 10:25 PM, prompting an immediate suspension of air traffic as a precautionary measure.
Pune International Airport, which serves both civilian flights and as an active Air Force base at Lohegaon, experienced a total halt in commercial operations during this time.
Airlines were informed about the disruption, leading to significant impacts on flight schedules.
Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol confirmed the situation, emphasizing that the safety of passengers was not compromised.
He noted that all authorities collaborated closely to ensure the runway was cleared promptly and that normal operations resumed without delays.
Efforts continued overnight to remove the involved aircraft and inspect the runway for compliance with safety standards. Airport management and IAF personnel were engaged in coordinated recovery efforts.
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES IMPACTED
Flight operations at the airport faced significant disruptions on April 17 and 18 due to the runway closure, resulting in widespread cancellations across various airlines.
IndiGo saw the highest number of cancellations, with 31 arrivals and 34 departures affected. Air India cancelled three arrivals and three departures.
Both SpiceJet and Akasa Air had two arrivals and three departures cancelled each, while Air India Express reported five cancellations for both arrivals and departures.
This extensive disruption had a major impact on travel plans, with airlines making efforts to assist affected passengers and manage rescheduling.
INDIGO TRAVEL ADVISORY
IndiGo released a travel advisory in light of the temporary closure of Pune airport’s runway, cautioning that a number of flights to and from the city could be affected.
In a social media statement, the airline encouraged passengers to verify their flight status before heading to the airport and suggested that those affected consider rebooking on alternative flights or opting for a full refund under its Plan B policy.
IndiGo also mentioned that its teams are actively reaching out to customers with updates and assured that airport and customer service representatives are available to assist passengers during the disruption.