Pune Airport Authorities on High Alert Over Passengers Clicking Photos, DGCA Asks to Keep Window Shades Shut

Pune, 24th May 2025: Authorities at Pune airport have raised red flags over an increasing number of air travellers taking photos or selfies that inadvertently capture restricted areas of the airside—sections that include sensitive Indian Air Force (IAF) installations at the Lohgaon airbase. The concern has escalated amid heightened national security measures following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.

Pune airport shares its operational space with the IAF’s Lohgaon station, making it a high-security zone. Airport director Santosh Dhoke confirmed that vigilance has been stepped up across agencies, especially the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), to monitor and deter such activities.

“We have received directives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) prohibiting photography at defence-operated airfields like Pune. Airlines are regularly making in-flight and pre-boarding announcements to ensure passengers understand the importance of adhering to this rule,” Dhoke said on Friday.

Defence Concerns and Non-Compliance
Despite the repeated warnings, authorities say many passengers continue to ignore these instructions, often taking pictures of hangars and runways through aircraft windows or from the terminal building.

An Indian Air Force official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “Photography of restricted areas is a clear violation of airbase security protocols. Passengers are reminded multiple times, both verbally and through signs, but compliance remains inconsistent.”

Airport staff, including ground personnel of private airlines, have also been asked to remind passengers about the no-photo policy, particularly when flights are stationed on the tarmac.

DGCA Orders to Keep Window Shades Shut
In a related development, the DGCA on Thursday instructed all airlines to ensure window shades remain closed during takeoff and landing at defence-run airports, including Pune. This move is seen as an added precaution to prevent unauthorized visual documentation of sensitive infrastructure.