Pune Airport Shutdown After IAF Aircraft Incident Causes Major Flight Disruption
Hard landing by Indian Air Force aircraft leads to flight cancellations, diversions and major passenger disruption before phased services resume.
The Impressive TimesPune: Flight operations at Pune Airport remained disrupted for more than 11 hours after an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft made a hard landing late Friday night, forcing authorities to suspend services, divert flights and cancel multiple scheduled operations, according to officials.
The incident occurred around 10:25 pm when the military aircraft reportedly suffered a landing gear malfunction during touchdown, leaving it stranded on the runway and making it temporarily unusable for civilian flight operations. A minor fire was reported following the incident, but emergency teams quickly contained the situation. All crew members onboard were reported safe.
Following the runway blockage, airport authorities issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), prompting airlines to divert several incoming flights to alternate airports, including Goa, Chennai, Surat, Coimbatore and Navi Mumbai. The closure also triggered widespread cancellations and delays, affecting major carriers including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Akasa Air and Air India Express.
Passengers faced major inconvenience as airlines managed diversions, delays and rebooking arrangements. Several flights already airborne were forced to alter routes, while others remained grounded until the runway was cleared. Airport authorities, along with security and operational staff, were deployed at the terminal to assist travellers, manage crowds and provide regular updates. Support measures, including refreshments and passenger assistance, were also arranged during the disruption.
Flight services resumed in phases on Saturday morning after the stranded aircraft was removed and mandatory runway inspections were completed. The Indian Air Force confirmed the runway had been restored and declared operational following safety clearances.
Officials said departures were restarted first, followed by arriving flights, with airlines working to manage the backlog created by the overnight shutdown. While operations have resumed, some residual delays are expected as carriers restore schedules and reposition aircraft.
Authorities said air traffic is expected to stabilise progressively as normal services return. The incident has once again highlighted the operational challenges airports face when emergency runway closures occur, particularly at facilities with limited runway capacity.
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