Flight operations at Pune Airport were temporarily suspended after an incident involving an Indian Air Force aircraft led to the closure of the runway late Friday night.
According to officials, the disruption was triggered after an Air Force aircraft experienced a hard landing during a routine operation. Preliminary information indicates that the aircraft encountered an undercarriage issue while landing, resulting in it being stranded on the runway and halting both arrivals and departures.
The incident occurred around 10:25 pm, following which the runway was declared temporarily unavailable. Authorities estimated that it would take several hours to clear the aircraft and restore normal airport operations.
Officials confirmed that the aircrew were safe and there was no damage to civil infrastructure. Airlines were informed about the disruption, with several flights either delayed or affected during the suspension period.
Restoration work was carried out on priority, with coordinated efforts between airport authorities and the Air Force. After necessary safety inspections and runway clearance, flight operations resumed in phases on Saturday morning. Departure services restarted around 7:30 am, followed by arrivals from approximately 8:00 am.
The incident led to a temporary disruption of airport activities, but swift response and recovery measures ensured minimal long-term impact. The cause of the hard landing is currently under investigation.
