Pune, April 18, 2026 — The runway at Pune International Airport (Lohegaon), a shared civil-military facility, was temporarily closed late on Friday night following an incident involving an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft. The runway has now been fully restored after safety inspections, with flight operations resuming in a phased manner on Saturday morning.
According to airport authorities, the incident occurred around 10:25 PM (2225 hrs) on April 17 when the IAF aircraft experienced an undercarriage (landing gear) failure during landing. This led to a “hard landing,” causing the aircraft to come to a halt on the runway and block it entirely. A minor technical snag was reported, and initial accounts mentioned a possible minor fire that was quickly extinguished.
The IAF’s Media Coordination Centre promptly issued a statement confirming that the aircrew remained safe and there was no damage to civilian property. Efforts were immediately initiated to clear the runway and restore operations.
Quick Resolution and Safety MeasuresThe closure disrupted operations for approximately 4–9 hours, depending on sources, as teams worked through the night to remove the aircraft, conduct thorough safety inspections, and clear the runway. By early Saturday, April 18, the IAF announced that all necessary clearances had been completed, declaring the runway operational once again.
Pune Airport, which operates on a single runway shared with the IAF’s Lohegaon Air Base (a key base for Su-30MKI squadrons), saw significant disruptions. Multiple commercial flights were diverted to nearby airports like Mumbai, while others faced delays or cancellations. Passengers were advised to check with airlines for updated schedules.
Official StatementsIn its follow-up post on X, the IAF stated:
“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.”
The IAF has not officially confirmed the specific aircraft type involved, though defense observers and local reports widely speculate it was a Su-30MKI fighter jet returning from a routine night training sortie. No official confirmation of major aircraft damage or loss has been released.
Impact on Passengers and AviationThe incident highlighted the challenges of operating at dual-use airports. Authorities stopped new passengers from entering the terminal during the closure. Airlines, including IndiGo and others, issued advisories to passengers. The disruption affected air traffic across western India, though no injuries were reported among civilians or aircrew.
This is the latest in occasional incidents at shared airbases, where military training and civil operations intersect. The swift response and transparent communication from the IAF were praised by many for minimizing speculation and restoring normalcy quickly.An investigation into the technical cause of the undercarriage failure is expected, as is standard protocol for IAF incidents. Further details on the aircraft’s condition and exact impact on operations will likely emerge in the coming days.
