An airport official told ANI, “The nose and a tire near the landing gear of the aircraft carrying around 180 passengers have been damaged. Despite the collision, all passengers and crew on board are reported to be safe.”
Yesterday, an Air India flight headed to Delhi collided with a tug truck while taxiing towards the runway at Pune Airport. The incident occurred with about 180 passengers on board.
An airport official told ANI, “The nose and a tire near the landing gear of the aircraft carrying approximately 180 passengers were damaged. Despite the collision, all passengers and crew on board are reported to be safe.”
Emergency protocols were quickly implemented to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
Airport authorities confirmed the incident and stated, “Passengers were immediately deboarded from the aircraft, and alternative flight arrangements to Delhi were made.”
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the collision. Preliminary reports indicate that the tug truck, used for moving the aircraft on the ground, struck the plane during the taxiing process. The DGCA’s investigation will focus on operational protocols and any potential shortcomings that led to this incident.
Airport operations continued without significant disruption, although the affected aircraft was taken out of service for a brief period for detailed inspection and repairs. It is now ready for operation .
In the meantime, the airline issued a statement claiming that something went wrong during the pushback of a flight that was supposed to take off from Pune for Delhi.
“The aircraft was taken out of service for inspection, all passengers were safely deboarded, and the flight was canceled. Passengers were fully refunded and offered complimentary rescheduling. Those with further international connections were sent to Delhi via other carriers. The investigation into the matter has already begun,” the airline stated.