Pune: The safety of passengers at Pune’s Lohegaon Airport has come under renewed scrutiny after a series of troubling incidents, including leopard sightings, frequent bird strikes, and a surge in unauthorized constructions in restricted zones. Experts warn that unless immediate and coordinated action is taken, the airport could face more serious accidents shortly.
Stray Dogs on Runway Spark Panic
In the latest scare, a stray dog on the runway forced a pilot to abort landing at Pune Airport on Friday, June 28, narrowly avoiding a mishap. Just a day later, an Air India Express flight from Bhubaneswar carrying 150 passengers had to go around after dogs were again spotted on the runway.
According to airport authorities and PMC officials, 50 to 60 stray dogs still roam freely around the terminal and airstrip, posing a constant threat to flight operations. While five dogs were caught on June 30, and 14 have been sterilised, many more remain unaccounted for.
“We caught five dogs on Monday after a written request from the airport authorities,” said Shailendra Chavan from PMC’s dog squad.
According to Indian animal welfare laws,
“if a stray dog has been sterilised (that is, it has had an operation so it cannot reproduce), then it cannot be removed or relocated from the area where it was living. Once sterilised, that place becomes the dog’s “home territory”, and legally, it has the right to stay there, even if that area is as sensitive as an airport.”
Animal activists strongly support this rule, which often causes tension with airport authorities, who want to remove the dogs for safety reasons.
“It’s not the animals’ fault. They belong here by law. It’s humans who have encroached on their space, not the other way around.”
– Animal activist Akanksha Mhetre, who regularly feeds dogs near the terminal,
The Four Alarming Incidents
A timeline reported by Lokmat reveals how frequent threats have become:
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April 29: A leopard spotted on airport premises sparked alarm, although forest officials clarified it was far from the runway.
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May 20: A Hyderabad-bound flight was grounded for over six hours due to bird activity near the runway.
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June 5: An IndiGo flight from Delhi had to be diverted to Surat after a large flock of birds swarmed the Lohegaon runway.
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June 26: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) demolished 24 illegal buildings in the airport’s funnel zone, built without permissions.
- June 28–29: Stray dog incursions forced two planes to abort landing. PMC admitted they lacked long-term solutions due to legal limitations.
These incidents underline a growing pattern of risk that threatens the lives of passengers, pilots, and crew operating in and out of Lohegaon.
Leopard Spotted, Officials Clarify No Threat – But Concerns Persist
In late April, a leopard was spotted on the premises of the airport. While forest officials clarified that the location was far from the runway, the incident triggered concerns about wildlife intrusions near one of Maharashtra’s busiest airports.
“There is no immediate threat to airport operations,”
Pune Range Forest Officer Suresh Varak said that the leopard seen at the airport was far from the runway and there was no danger to flight operations.
However, aviation safety experts say that wild animals entering airport areas show that there is poor security around the airport boundary, and increasing urban pressure on nearby forest areas.
Bird Strikes Disrupt Flights – Safety of Flyers at Risk
Two major bird strike incidents — on May 20 and June 5 — disrupted operations at Lohegaon. An IndiGo flight from Delhi had to be diverted to Surat, while passengers on a Hyderabad-bound aircraft were stuck on the tarmac for over six hours.
Experts say that,
“The rising number of birds near the runway is directly linked to illegal roadside eateries, overflowing garbage bins, and poor waste management. The airport is surrounded by unauthorized colonies that attract scavenging birds like kites and pigeons, increasing the risk of aircraft collisions.”
Retired Air Marshal Bhushan Gokhale has called for faster development of the Purandar airport. Which can help decongest Lohegaon. Former Airport Director Deepak Shastri pointed out that the lack of a crackdown on illegal structures is worsening the situation.
Illegal Buildings Demolished Near Airport, But Big Questions Remain
After the Air India crash in Ahmedabad, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) acted quickly and demolished 24 illegal under-construction buildings near Lohegaon Airport. These buildings were just 900 meters away from the airport’s boundary, in the funnel zone, where any construction is strictly banned due to airport safety.
The demolished structures covered about 48,000 square feet. According to Rajesh Bankar, a senior PMC official, none of these buildings had legal permission. Even though PMC had issued notices, construction still went ahead.
But activists and locals say this problem is much bigger.
Vijay Kumbhar from Surjya Sangharsha Samiti said:
“Civic officials often ignore such constructions until third-party interests are created. This legal tangle helps builders avoid demolition. Funnel zone constructions exist mainly because of official negligence.”
Further reports show that land was sold and registered illegally, and many people who bought these plots didn’t know they were in a no-construction zone.
Madhuri Ratnaparkhi, a resident, said:
“The administration shouldn’t wait for public pressure. They should halt illegal buildings right from the plotting stage.”
One woman whose building was demolished told a reporter:
“We bought this land legally. No one told us it was restricted. Why didn’t the government act before registration?”
Experts say the main reasons are poor coordination, confusion over land records, and a lack of early action by authorities. PMC says they are still facing problems in taking action on buildings where court cases are going on, but new surveys are being done as ordered by the Bombay High Court.
Where Is the Airport Environment Committee?
Surprisingly, the Airport Environment Committee, mandated to monitor ecological hazards around airports, has been largely inactive. Sources say no regular surveys or joint inspections have been held despite repeated incidents.
Aviation expert Dhairyashil Vandekar emphasized: “We need weekly inspections, published reports, and action across all departments. This is not just a civic issue—it’s national aviation safety.”
Time for Action, Not Excuses
Pune’s airport is flying through turbulence—not in the skies, but on the ground. Wildlife, birds, and buildings are not just operational nuisances—they’re potential disaster triggers. It’s time the PMC, airport authorities, and defense agencies worked together on a real-time monitoring plan, enforced zoning laws, and revived the Airport Environment Committee.
For now, as Pune grows skyward, it must also look around—and act—before the next accident takes off.
