Panic at Pune Airport Following Hard Landing of Indian Air Force Aircraft

A hard landing by an Indian Air Force aircraft at Pune Airport caused chaos, leading to the temporary closure of the runway and the cancellation of 91 flights. Passengers faced long delays as authorities worked to assess and repair the runway. After 11 hours, operations resumed, but an investigation is underway to understand the technical issues that led to the incident. This event highlights the challenges faced by air traffic management during unexpected situations.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 19, 2026, 16:49 IST

Incident at Pune Airport

Chaos erupted at Pune Airport in Maharashtra when an Indian Air Force aircraft made a hard landing, leading to the temporary closure of the runway. This incident severely disrupted air traffic, resulting in the cancellation of 91 flights.

Reports indicate that the aircraft had to land with more force than usual due to technical issues. Consequently, the runway was immediately closed for inspection and repairs for safety reasons.

As a result of the runway closure, numerous domestic and some international flights were either diverted or canceled, causing significant inconvenience for passengers who had to wait for hours at the airport.

Airport authorities and technical teams arrived on-site to assess the runway and initiate necessary repairs. Additional security measures were also implemented to manage the situation.

After approximately 11 hours of effort, the runway was declared safe for flights again, and air traffic gradually returned to normal in the morning.

Although the incident temporarily affected airport operations, the administration quickly regained control of the situation. An in-depth investigation is currently underway to determine how the technical issue occurred during landing.