Sukhoi Aircraft Hard Landing Disrupts Pune Airport Schedule, Multiple Flights Diverted

Pune, 14th August 2024: A Sukhoi fighter aircraft experienced a hard landing at Pune Airport on Wednesday, August 14, causing significant disruption to the airport’s schedule. The aircraft was landing after completing a routine practice session when it suddenly crashed from a height of eight to ten feet above the runway.

The incident prompted the Air Force to close the runway for approximately 40 minutes as a precautionary measure to inspect potential damage, leading to the diversion of four flights and delays for several others.

The incident occurred around 10:00 AM when the Sukhoi, which weighs approximately 18,400 kg and has a landing speed of around 230 km/h, hit the runway hard during its descent. There was no damage to the aircraft’s landing gear. However, due to the aircraft’s substantial weight and speed, there were concerns about possible damage to the runway.

Pune Airport, which also serves as a base station for the Air Force, is regularly used by Sukhoi pilots for practice flights. The Air Force promptly issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), leading to the closure of the runway for all passenger flights to ensure a thorough inspection could be conducted. The runway remained closed for about 40 minutes before being cleared for use after a careful inspection by Air Force officials.

The runway closure led to significant disruptions in the airport’s schedule, affecting both incoming and outgoing flights. Four flights were diverted as a result:
1. An Indigo flight from Chennai to Pune was diverted to Hyderabad.
2. An Indigo flight from Delhi to Pune was diverted to Mumbai.
3. A Vistara flight from Delhi to Pune was diverted to Mumbai.
4. An Air India flight from Bangalore to Pune returned to Bangalore.

In addition to these diversions, seven to eight flights were delayed by approximately one to one and a half hours. The runway was eventually cleared for passenger aircraft, and normal operations resumed.

A hard landing, such as the one experienced by the Sukhoi, can occur due to pilot error or wind conditions. While it often results in tyre bursts or potential damage to the runway, Wednesday’s incident did not lead to any such issues. However, the impact of the Sukhoi’s landing could have caused minor damage to the runway, such as small pits or soil erosion, which can pose risks to other aircraft, including the possibility of stones entering aircraft engines.

The Air Force’s swift action in closing the runway and conducting a thorough inspection ensured that passenger safety was not compromised, despite the significant disruption to flight schedules at Pune Airport.