Pune, 30 June 2025: An Air India flight (IX 1097) arriving from Bhubaneswar had to abort its landing at Pune Airport on Saturday evening after the pilot spotted a dog on the runway. The incident occurred around 6 PM, when the aircraft was just 100 to 150 feet above the ground, approaching for landing.
In a quick decision to ensure passenger safety, the pilot pulled the aircraft back up into the air and initiated a go-around. Airport staff swiftly acted to clear the runway. The flight eventually landed safely at 7:12 PM, but the incident caused a delay of nearly an hour.
This isn't the first time stray animals have disrupted flight operations at Pune Airport. In the past, dogs and even leopards have been reported near the runway, posing serious risks to air traffic. About two months ago, a dog was caught in the landing gear of a departing flight, which led to the cancellation of that flight as well.
The increasing presence of stray animals and birds has raised concerns among airport officials. While some measures are being taken to drive them away, they seem to be falling short. The airport environment management committee, chaired by the District Collector, is tasked with addressing such safety threats, but its effectiveness has come under question.
Passenger Hitendra Kurne, who was on the flight, described the experience:
"The plane was just about to land when it suddenly climbed back up. We were a bit shaken. The pilot later announced that a dog was seen on the runway and air traffic control had instructed a go-around. The plane kept circling for about 30–40 minutes before finally landing."
This close call has once again highlighted the urgent need for improved wildlife and stray management around the Pune airport runway to prevent potential disasters.
