The Lohegaon Air Force Station has launched an internal inquiry into Thursday’s incident where a Sukhoi-30 aircraft skidded off the runway affecting flight operations.
“We will inquire into the cause behind the incident and determine how such mishaps can be prevented in the future. It was however nothing major since no one was hurt and the aircraft was not seriously damaged,” said an IAF.
official from the station, refusing to comment further. The aircraft is meanwhile undergoing repairs at the hangar on the runway.
On April 19, the aircraft suddenly skidded off the runway after developing a problem in the nose undercarriage and stalled, blocking flight operations for about four hours. Arrivals and departures at Pune airport were blocked between 9.30 am to 1.30 pm with officials from the Airport Authority of India and IAF trying to get the plane off the runway. Four domestic flights were diverted to Mumbai, one was cancelled and seven were rescheduled.
This comes after an incident on December 13 last year, when another Sukhoi-30 piloted by Wing Commander G.S. Sohal and Flight Lieutenant U. Nautiyal crashed in a small village near the air base. Both the pilots however ejected safely and no one was hurt in the incident.
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