Pune Airport Today: Flight Services Back to Normal After Runway Blockage
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Viman Nagar, 18th April 2026: Flight operations at Pune Airport have returned to normal after a late-night runway blockage caused by a technical failure in an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft disrupted services for several hours, Airport Director Santosh Dhoke said on Saturday.
According to Dhoke, the incident occurred at around 10:25 pm on Friday when a fighter aircraft experienced an undercarriage issue during landing, leading to its immobilisation on the runway. Both pilots are safe, and no casualties were reported.
The runway was immediately declared unavailable, and a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued for temporary closure until 5:30 am. However, the closure was later extended to 9:00 am to allow for the safe removal of the aircraft, as well as inspection and restoration work. The aircraft was eventually cleared from the runway at approximately 5:45 am.
Following safety checks, the runway was declared fit for operations. Departures resumed from 7:30 am, while arrivals recommenced from 8:00 am.
The disruption significantly impacted flight schedules, with multiple diversions and cancellations reported across airlines. A total of 12 flights were diverted, including eight IndiGo flights, one Air India flight, one Akasa Air flight, and two Air India Express flights.
Cancellations were more extensive. IndiGo cancelled 35 arrivals and 38 departures. Air India cancelled three arrivals and three departures, while SpiceJet cancelled two arrivals and three departures. Akasa Air reported two arrival and three departure cancellations, and Air India Express cancelled five arrivals and five departures.
Airport authorities arranged passenger facilitation measures during the disruption, including the provision of drinking water, tea, coffee, and light refreshments. Teams from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) managed passenger movement and crowd control at the terminal.
The first arrival after the runway reopened was a Fly91 flight from Mopa, which landed at 8:58 am. The first departure was SpiceJet flight SG 937 to Delhi, which took off at 9:17 am.
Airlines have been coordinating with affected passengers regarding delays, cancellations, and diversions. Airport officials confirmed that operations are now fully normalised.
