Over 120 Passengers on Jaipur Flight Endure Aborted Take-Off at Pune Airport After Dog Strays Onto Runway
Pune, 4th July 2026: More than 120 passengers on an Air India Express flight to Jaipur had a frightening experience on Friday afternoon after the aircraft was forced to abort its take-off moments before becoming airborne due to a stray dog on the runway at Pune Airport.
The incident involved Air India Express flight IX-2458, which was scheduled to depart at 3:15 pm. According to passengers, the aircraft had already accelerated to near take-off speed when the pilots initiated an emergency rejected take-off after receiving an alert from Air Traffic Control (ATC) about an animal on the runway.
The abrupt braking caused a severe jolt inside the cabin, alarming passengers who initially feared a major technical malfunction.
Aashish Bakhle, a resident of Bavdhan who was travelling with his wife, said the flight was nearly full and had completed taxiing before beginning its take-off roll.
“The aircraft was accelerating rapidly, and we expected it to lift off within seconds. Suddenly, the pilot applied the brakes with tremendous force. There was a loud noise and a violent jerk. Many passengers were visibly shaken and thought something had gone seriously wrong,” Bakhle said.
Seated in rows 16E and 16F, Bakhle said passengers initially suspected an engine failure or fire before the pilot informed them that the take-off had been aborted after ATC reported a stray dog on the runway.
Following the rejected take-off, the aircraft returned to the parking bay, where it underwent a mandatory technical inspection to ensure the heavy braking had not affected its airworthiness. After engineers cleared the aircraft, the flight departed safely at around 4:55 pm, approximately 100 minutes behind schedule.
Air India Express did not issue an official statement on the incident.
Pune Airport Director Santosh Dhoke said runway management and ATC operations at Pune Airport are handled by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and referred queries to defence authorities. A response from the defence spokesperson was awaited.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns over wildlife-related safety hazards at Pune’s Lohgaon Airport. On June 28 this year, another Air India Express flight arriving from Bhubaneswar was forced to perform a go-around after stray dogs were spotted on the runway. In June 2025, a Delhi–Pune flight suffered a bird strike during landing, while in February 2023, a taxiing SpiceJet aircraft fatally struck a stray dog on the airfield.
Airport authorities have previously said they are coordinating with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to improve waste management around the airport, as open garbage is believed to attract stray animals and birds into the operational area.
