PUNE, India – A damaged Air India aircraft, grounded since a May 17 incident at Pune Airport, remains parked in a prime parking bay, exacerbating space constraints at the already limited facility. The aircraft, which sustained damage to its belly after colliding with a pushback tug vehicle, has been hindering the operation of seven to eight flights per day.
Pune Airport, a civil enclave within an Air Force Station, operates with only ten parking bays, five of which are remote. This limited infrastructure has been further strained by the grounded aircraft.
Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, addressed the issue during a media interaction on Sunday, stating that he has initiated the process to relocate the aircraft to defense land, freeing up the parking bay for other airlines. Mohol confirmed that he has personally handed a letter to Defense Minister Rajnath Singh seeking permission for the transfer.
"The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has already cleared the aircraft for shifting and repair," Mohol stated. "A technical team is on-site in Pune, and the necessary spare parts are en route."
Santosh Dhoke, Director of Pune Airport, acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the parked aircraft. "It's causing some inconvenience," he said in a statement to The Indian Express.
The May 17 incident involved an Air India flight bound for Delhi with 180 passengers on board. While no injuries were reported, the aircraft suffered significant damage.
Minister Mohol also reviewed the progress of various ongoing projects at Pune Airport, including the expansion of the runway and the operationalization of the new terminal. He has pledged to expedite these projects to alleviate the airport's infrastructure challenges.
