By our correspondent
PUNE, INDIA: A fighter jet of the Indian Air Force was grounded after developing a technical fault during landing at Pune airport, causing a temporary suspension of flight operations and the closure of the runway for several hours, according to Indian media reports.
The aircraft, identified as a Sukhoi Su-30MKI, is reported to have encountered a landing gear malfunction while touching down late on Friday night into the early hours of Saturday. The issue left the jet stranded on the runway, prompting an immediate operational response from airport authorities.
Following the incident, runway operations were halted as a precautionary measure. Several incoming flights were either delayed or diverted to alternate airports while technical teams assessed the situation and worked to remove the aircraft from the landing strip. The disruption led to an extended period during which the runway remained unusable.
Officials were cited as saying that all crew members aboard the aircraft were safe and that no injuries were reported in the incident. The focus thereafter shifted to recovery operations and restoring normal airport functioning.
Engineers and ground support teams worked through the night to clear the runway and secure the area, ensuring that safety protocols were fully observed before resuming operations. After several hours of coordinated effort, the runway was declared safe for use and flight services were gradually restored by Saturday morning.
While the precise cause of the landing gear malfunction has not been publicly detailed, aviation authorities are expected to carry out a technical inspection of the aircraft as part of standard procedures following such incidents.
