The Indian Air Force (IAF) said late Friday night that the runway at Pune airport was temporarily unavailable following an incident involving one of its aircraft, disrupting both inbound and outbound commercial flight operations. According to initial information, the incident involved a fighter aircraft that reportedly experienced a hard landing.
In a statement, the IAF confirmed that the situation occurred during a routine night flying sortie and assured that the aircrew involved were safe.
“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,” the IAF said.
The Indian Air Force in a post on X later confirmed that the runway at Pune Airport, which was temporarily unavailable due to an incident involving an Indian Air Force aircraft, has now been restored and declared operational. All necessary safety inspections and clearances have been completed. Operations are resuming in a phased manner.
Airport and police sources indicated that the aircraft may have suffered an undercarriage failure upon touchdown, leading to the blockage of the runway. However, detailed technical specifics have not yet been officially disclosed.
Authorities at Pune International Airport said the incident took place at approximately 10.25 pm. Following the occurrence, air traffic was immediately suspended as a safety precaution.
The airport, which operates under a dual-use model integrating civilian flights with an active Air Force station at Lohegaon, saw a complete halt in commercial operations.
Officials from Air Force Air Traffic Control (ATC) estimated that it could take around four to six hours to clear the runway and restore normal flight services.
During this period, airlines were notified of the disruption, and flight schedules were impacted accordingly.
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol also confirmed the situation, reiterating that passenger safety remained uncompromised.
He stated that authorities were working closely to ensure the runway is cleared at the earliest and normal operations resume without delay.
Efforts continued overnight to remove the affected aircraft and inspect the runway for safety compliance. Airport authorities and IAF personnel remained engaged in coordinated recovery operations.
ARRIVALS, DEPARTURES AFFECTED
Flight operations at the airport faced major disruption on April 17 and 18 following the runway shutdown, leading to widespread cancellations across airlines.
IndiGo recorded the highest number, cancelling 31 arrivals and 34 departures. Air India cancelled three arrivals and three departures.
SpiceJet and Akasa Air each saw two arrivals and three departures cancelled. Air India Express reported five arrivals and five departures cancelled.
The large-scale disruption impacted travel plans, with airlines working to assist affected passengers and manage rescheduling.
INDIGO ISSUES ADVISORY
IndiGo issued a travel advisory following the temporary closure of Pune airport’s runway, warning that several flights to and from the city may be affected.
Travel Advisory
Due to the unavailability of the runway at Pune airport, some flights to and from Pune may be impacted.
We understand this may affect your travel plans, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
We recommend checking your flight status before— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) April 17, 2026
In a statement shared on social media, the airline urged passengers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport and advised those impacted to either rebook on alternate flights or opt for a full refund under its Plan B policy.
IndiGo said its teams are proactively contacting customers with updates and assured that airport and customer service staff remain available to assist passengers during the disruption.
Further updates are expected once the runway is fully operational and flight services resume.
– Ends
With PTI inputs
Published On:
Apr 18, 2026 07:11 IST
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