DELHI- A month after an Air India (AI) A321 aircraft sustained damage from colliding with a pushback tug at Pune airport (PNQ), it remains parked at the airport’s parking bay, exacerbating the existing space shortage, according to The Indian Express.
Operating as a civil enclave within an Air Force Station, the airport has limited infrastructure with a total of 10 parking bays, five of which are remote.
Air India Damaged A321
The newly appointed Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol acknowledged the issue of the damaged aircraft occupying a parking bay.
He has initiated steps to have it moved, freeing up the area for use by other airlines. Mohol noted that the damaged aircraft’s presence is affecting the operation of seven to eight flights daily.
Murlidhar Mohol stated that permission from the Ministry of Defence is needed to move the damaged aircraft to defense land. He has submitted a letter to Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh seeking approval for this relocation.
DGCA Approved Repair
The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has already approved the move and repair of the aircraft.
“The technical team has arrived in Pune, and the necessary spare parts are on the way,” Mohol added.
Air India flight AI858 was operated by Airbus A321-200, registered as VT-PPL. The aircraft is 15 years and 4 months old and is powered by CFM engines.
Santosh Dhoke, Director of Pune Airport, informed The Indian Express that the aircraft involved in the accident with the pushback tug is still parked at the airport, causing “some inconvenience.”
On May 17, a Delhi-bound Air India flight carrying 180 passengers collided with a pushback tug vehicle at Pune Airport. While no passengers were injured, the aircraft sustained damage near the belly.
In March 2024, Two aircraft, registered as VT-TGG, a 737-800 operated by Air India Express (IX), and VT-ISS, an A320neo operated by IndiGo Airlines (6E), were involved in a ground collision while taxiing to Runway 19R at Kolkata Airport (CCU).
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