A Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet of the Indian Air Force had to engage an aircraft arrester barrier at Air Force Station in Pune to stop the aircraft because of inadequate deceleration experienced by the pilots following a technical snag, the IAF said. No damage was reported to the fighter jet. Flight operations from the Pune airport remained shut for several hours after the incident Monday. Passengers complained that the airlines needed to be more forthcoming in sharing the information. Runway is closed in #pune #airport because it got damaged. Now under repair. All #flights diverted since morning. Now Indigo staff said they got runway clearance so the diverted flights will be landing. Expect a queue. — tania roy (@taniaroy) March 20, 2023 IAF PRO Wing Commander Ashish Moghe said, "Today, a Su-30 MKI of the Indian Air Force engaged the Aircraft Arrester Barrier at Air Force Station, Pune. The event occurred after a routine training sortie, following inadequate deceleration experienced by the pilots, on the landing roll due to a technical snag." Wing Commander Moghe added, "There was no damage to the aircraft. Engaging the arrester barrier gear is a planned activity for stopping a fighter aircraft. The runway, which had been closed temporarily, has been made operational again. An investigation has been ordered into the incident." Aircraft arrester barriers are a net covering the width of the runway, used to stop the military aircraft during emergency landing, inadequate deceleration, aborted take off or similar emergencies. IAF base at Lohegaon in Pune is home to two squadrons of the Sukhoi 30 - the '20 Squadron', also known as 'Lightnings'; and '30 Squadron', also known as 'Rhinos.' Pune airport director Santosh Dhoke could not be contacted for a comment.
