Pune Airport Bay Reopens After Damaged Air India Aircraft Relocated To Air Force Base

Viman Nagar, 27th June 2024: The damaged Air India plane, which had been occupying a parking bay at Pune airport for the past one and a half months, has been relocated to the Air Force premises. This move follows Union Civil Aviation Minister Murlidhar Mohol’s successful request for permission from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The prompt action, taken within 24 hours, is expected to alleviate delays for incoming and outgoing flights at Pune airport.

On May 17, the Delhi-bound Air India flight carrying 180 passengers collided with a pushback tug vehicle at Pune Airport. Although no passengers were injured, the aircraft sustained damage near the belly.

The presence of the damaged Air India plane at the airport’s bay had been causing significant disruption to passenger traffic and the overall flight schedule, as one of the ten bays was rendered unusable. This resulted in increased pressure on the remaining bays, leading to frequent delays. With the repair of the aircraft likely to take additional time, relocating it to the Air Force site emerged as a viable temporary solution.

Union Minister Mohol discussed the matter with Defence Minister Singh, emphasizing the urgent need to move the aircraft to restore normal operations at the airport. Following their meeting, permission was granted to park the plane in the Air Force premises.

“By removing the damaged plane, the people of Pune will get a big relief and the disrupted schedule will be restored,” said Mohol. “One out of ten bays was significantly closed, with a single bay handling 8 to 9 planes daily. The closure of this bay added strain to the other nine bays, collapsing the schedule.”

Minister Mohol further explained, “After inspecting the parking bay with officials, we proposed the option of relocating the aircraft to the Air Force premises. I immediately sent a letter to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and met him to expedite the process. This action, taken within 24 hours of the visit, has provided significant relief to passengers in Pune. On behalf of the people of Pune, we extend our gratitude to Defence Minister Singh for his prompt decision.”