In a concerning incident on Thursday, around 200 passengers were left stranded at Pune Airport after an Air India flight bound for Delhi collided with a luggage tractor while taxiing towards the runway. The collision resulted in significant damage to the aircraft, including its wing and a tyre.
The mishap occurred at approximately 4 pm as the Air India AI-858 flight was preparing for departure with around 180 passengers on board. According to airport officials, the aircraft sustained damage to its nose and a tyre near the landing gear. Fortunately, all passengers and crew members on board were reported to be safe.
“The aircraft, carrying around 180 passengers, suffered damage to its nose and a tyre near the landing gear. Despite the collision, all passengers and crew on board are reported to be safe,” an airport official stated.
Due to the damage, the flight was delayed, and the passengers were promptly deplaned. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has since initiated an inquiry into the incident to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences.
This event marks the second such incident at Pune Airport in recent days. Last Friday, a ladder belonging to IndiGo collided with a chartered aircraft carrying Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma during an election campaign, highlighting ongoing safety concerns at the facility.
