A month after an Air India aircraft suffered damage after it hit a pushback tug at the Pune airport, the aircraft continues to be parked at the parking bay of the airport, adding to the issue of space shortage faced by the airport, The Indian Express reported.
The airport, functioning as a civil enclave within an Air Force Station, operates with limited infrastructure and features a total of 10 parking bays, five of which are remote.
Damaged aircraft causing flight delays at Pune airport
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol has said that the issue of the damaged aircraft occupying a parking bay had been brought to his attention. He has initiated the process to have it moved, allowing the area to be used by other airlines. He mentioned that the damaged aircraft was impacting the operation of seven to eight flights daily.
“We need to shift it to the defence land for which we need permission from Ministry of Defence. I have handed over a letter to acquire permission to shift out the aircraft on defence land to (Minister of Defence) Rajnath Singhji,” Mohol said, adding that the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has cleared the move and repair of the aircraft.
“The technical team has reached Pune and the spare parts required for the work are on the way,” he said.
Director of Pune Airport Santosh Dhoke told The Indian Express that the aircraft involved in the accident with the pushback tug is still parked at the airport and has been causing “some inconvenience”.
On May 17, the Delhi-bound Air India flight carrying 180 passengers collided with a pushback tug vehicle at Pune Airport. Although no passengers were injured, the aircraft sustained damage near the belly.