Special Correspondent
Pune : An Air India Express flight (IX-1097) arriving from Bhubaneswar faced a 57-minute delay in landing at Pune Airport on June 28 after a stray dog was spotted on the runway, prompting immediate intervention by Air Traffic Control (ATC). The incident has once again raised serious concerns about runway safety and the frequent intrusion of stray animals at Indian airports.
The flight had departed from Bhubaneswar at 4:05 p.m. and was scheduled to land in Pune around 6:15 p.m. However, during the final approach, the pilots noticed a stray dog on the runway, forcing the ATC to abort the landing. The aircraft circled mid-air multiple times while ground staff worked to clear the runway. It finally landed safely at 7:12 p.m.
A passenger on the flight shared his experience, saying, “As we were about to land, the plane suddenly pulled up. There was panic among passengers. Later, we were informed that a dog had entered the runway, which caused the delay.”
This incident isn’t isolated. Pune Times Mirror had already reported similar safety concerns in its February 25 edition, highlighting the growing issue of stray dogs roaming the airport premises. Despite earlier warnings, the recurrence of such an event points to a persistent lapse in ground security and surveillance.
Airport authorities confirmed that the dog was safely removed and the runway was cleared before the aircraft was granted landing clearance. While all passengers disembarked safely, the delay caused significant inconvenience. As of now, Air India Express has not issued an official statement on the matter.
This incident comes just days after a similar safety scare at Ahmedabad Airport, and follows another alarming case on February 13, when a stray dog collided with a SpiceJet aircraft (SG 2962) on the Pune runway, causing the aircraft to halt take-off. The dog died on impact, but fortunately, the aircraft suffered no damage and all passengers were safe.
Aviation expert Dhairyashil Vandekar expressed strong concern over the latest incident:
“Runway safety is non-negotiable. These are not small lapses but dangerous flaws in ground surveillance and perimeter control. Whether it’s dogs or birds, any intrusion on the runway is a serious safety hazard. The Civil Aviation Ministry must act swiftly to implement stricter monitoring and security mechanisms.”
Pune Airport Director Santosh Doke has officially written to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) seeking intervention to resolve the issue of stray dogs infiltrating the airport premises. In response, a senior official from PMC’s Animal Husbandry Department, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated:
“Our team routinely acts on calls from the airport and conducts rescues and sterilisation drives as per Animal Welfare Board of India norms. But we are unaware how these animals enter the runway area, despite our efforts.”
