Delhi-bound Air India flight collides with luggage tractor at Pune airport, over 200 passengers stranded

Pune: An Air India flight bound to Delhi collided with a luggage tractor at Pune airport on Thursday (May 16). The incident took place when the flight was taxiing towards the runway. 

According to airport officials, nearly 200 passengers were stranded at Pune airport after the collision. The airport officials stated that due to the collision, one of the aircraft’s wings and a tyre got damaged.

Flight had 180 passengers on board

“The incident took place when around 180 passengers were on board,” said the officials. 

“The aircraft, carrying around 180 passengers, suffered damage to its nose and a tyre near the landing gear. Despite the collision, all passengers and crew on board are reported to be safe,” an airport official said.

The incident took place when the Air India AI-858 flight was preparing to depart from Pune airport at 4 pm. However, due to damage to the aircraft, the flight was delayed. Due to the collision and delay, the passengers on the aircraft were deboarded. 

DGCA orders probe

Following the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated an inquiry into the matter. 

A similar incident took place on May 10 in which a ladder of an IndiGo flight collided with a chartered aircraft in Pune. The aircraft was carrying Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma during a poll campaign in Pune.