Pune Airport: Air India’s Grounded Aircraft Moved From Bay Following Defense Minister’s Intervention

An Air India aircraft that had been grounded at Pune airport for the past month and a half has been relocated to a Defense area. This move follows a meeting between Union Civil Aviation Minister Muralidhar Mohol and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, with permission granted to shift the plane within 24 hours. The relocation aims to prevent delays in incoming and outgoing flights at Pune airport.

The presence of the crashed Air India plane in the parking bay had been causing significant disruptions to passenger traffic and flight schedules. With the aircraft’s repair expected to take more time, a temporary solution was found by moving it to the Defense Force premises. This decision was made after discussions between Union Minister Mohol and Defense Minister Singh.

Union Minister Mohol stated, “Removing the crashed plane will provide significant relief to Pune’s passengers and restore the disrupted flight schedule. One of the ten bays had been closed, affecting the daily operations of 8 to 9 planes per bay. This strain on the remaining bays led to schedule collapses. After inspecting the parking bay with officials, we proposed relocating the aircraft to the Defense Department premises. I promptly sent a letter and met with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, and within 24 hours, the action was taken. This swift decision has greatly benefited Pune’s passengers. On behalf of Pune’s people, we extend our gratitude to Rajnath Singh for his prompt decision.”