Pune: Flight operations at Pune Airport came to a complete halt for almost 11 hours late Friday night after an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft made a hard landing due to landing gear failure. The incident occurred around 10:25 pm on April 17, 2026, leaving the aircraft stranded on the runway and blocking all movements.
A minor fire broke out following the hard landing but was quickly brought under control. Both pilots escaped unharmed, and no damage was reported to any civil infrastructure at the airport.
The blockage forced immediate suspension of all arrivals and departures. The Indian Air Force issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that was initially valid until 5:30 am and later extended to 9 am on Saturday to allow time for removal of the aircraft, thorough inspections, and necessary repair work.
Pune runway is temporarily unavailable due to an incident involving an IAF aircraft. The aircrew are safe and there is no damage to civil property. Efforts are underway to operationalise the runway and resume normal operations at the earliest.@DefenceMinIndia@SpokespersonMoD…
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) April 17, 2026
After nearly 11 hours of disruption, the runway was finally cleared and declared operational on Saturday morning following comprehensive safety inspections and clearances. The Indian Air Force stated, “All necessary safety inspections and clearances have been completed.” Flight services then resumed in a phased manner.
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said he remained in constant touch with airport and Air Force officials throughout the night. He stressed that safety was the topmost priority and confirmed that operations were restored only after all required checks were completed.
The runway at Pune Airport was temporarily unavailable following an incident involving an IAF aircraft.
— Murlidhar Mohol (@mohol_murlidhar) April 18, 2026
Runway repair work has since been completed on a war footing, with safety maintained as the top priority throughout.
Departure operations will resume from 07:30 AM, and…
At least eight incoming flights were diverted to alternate airports including Surat, Goa, Navi Mumbai, Chennai, and Coimbatore. Several other flights operated by IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Air India Express had to be cancelled, causing inconvenience to many passengers.
Airport authorities deployed extra staff to assist stranded travellers, providing refreshments, water, and regular updates. Air traffic is expected to normalise gradually during the course of the day.
Also read: Mumbai Weather: 30°C Morning Temperature, Very Warm Conditions Expected
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