Pune airport reopens after IAF jet incident disrupts night operations

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol announced that the runway was restored on a priority basis, with safety checks carried out throughout the process.

Post Published By: Sujata Biswal

Updated : 18 April 2026, 12:27 PM IST

Pune airport reopens after IAF jet incident

Pune: Flight operations at Pune Airport have resumed after an overnight shutdown triggered by an incident involving an Indian Air Force aircraft. Authorities confirmed that emergency repairs were completed swiftly, allowing services to restart early Saturday morning.

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol announced that the runway was restored on a priority basis, with safety checks carried out throughout the process. Departure flights resumed from 7:30 AM, followed by arrivals at 8:00 AM, while normal air traffic is expected to stabilise progressively during the day.

What caused the disruption

The disruption began late Friday night when a fighter aircraft experienced an undercarriage failure during landing, leading to a hard touchdown that left the jet stranded on the runway. The aircraft remained immobilised at the centre of the strip, forcing authorities to halt all civilian flight movements.

While defence sources indicated the aircraft may have been a Sukhoi Su-30MKI, officials did not formally confirm the model. The aircrew were reported safe, and no damage to civilian infrastructure occurred.

Major impact on flight schedules

The runway closure led to widespread cancellations and delays across multiple airlines. IndiGo was among the most affected, with dozens of arrivals and departures called off. Other carriers, including Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, also reported significant disruptions to their schedules.

Passengers were advised to verify flight statuses before heading to the airport, as airlines worked to manage the backlog. IndiGo issued a statement acknowledging the inconvenience, noting that the situation was beyond airline control and that affected travellers could opt for rebooking or full refunds.

Swift recovery efforts

Airport officials said cranes and heavy equipment were deployed immediately to remove the stranded aircraft and restore the runway. The repair and clearance work, carried out within a few hours, enabled operations to restart sooner than expected.

With services now resuming, authorities expect congestion to ease gradually as airlines clear pending schedules and restore regular operations.