Bengaluru to Pune Flight Diverted to Mumbai Amid Heavy Rain and Poor Visibility
Heavy rain and poor visibility disrupted air traffic once again at Pune Airport on Thursday evening, forcing a Bengaluru–Pune flight to be diverted to Mumbai. The incident marked the second major weather-related disruption this week, highlighting the operational strain faced by the airport during intense downpours.
According to airport officials, the IndiGo aircraft departed Bengaluru at 6:45 pm and reached Pune airspace shortly after 8 pm. However, with low-level clouds and continuous rain reducing visibility, the flight circled the city for nearly half an hour before air traffic control advised diversion. The aircraft, an Airbus A320neo that had earlier flown from Mauritius to Bengaluru, landed safely in Mumbai around 9 pm. This was not an isolated occurrence. On Sunday night and early Monday, as many as 14 flights were diverted due to similar conditions, with aircraft redirected to Hyderabad, Surat, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai. Some flights returned to Pune later, once weather conditions stabilised. Officials acknowledged that such diversions not only inconvenience passengers but also increase operational costs for airlines.
Pune Airport functions as both a civilian international airport and a defence base, sharing infrastructure with the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Lohegaon. In times of extreme weather, the coordination between civil aviation authorities and the Air Force becomes critical. Earlier this week, the IAF permitted limited civilian operations during its scheduled block time under a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), ensuring that stranded flights could be managed despite operational restrictions. Experts pointed out that Pune’s geographical position, combined with the monsoon’s late-season intensity, often creates challenges for flight operations. The absence of parallel runways and limited apron capacity further restrict recovery during weather disruptions. Aviation specialists noted that while diversions are routine safety measures, frequent incidents highlight the urgent need for enhanced weather forecasting systems and better infrastructure at mid-sized airports such as Pune.
The situation also renews attention on regional aviation planning. The Navi Mumbai International Airport, scheduled to open at the end of September, is expected to significantly ease such disruptions. Located about 120 kilometres from Pune, it will be more accessible via the Mumbai–Pune Expressway and offer airlines an alternative hub during unfavourable conditions at Pune. Officials believe the new facility will provide better contingency options for Pune-bound flights while strengthening the western region’s overall aviation capacity. For passengers, the unpredictability of weather-related disruptions at Pune Airport remains a source of inconvenience. Industry voices argue that with growing passenger traffic, Pune requires sustained investment in infrastructure to cope with climatic extremes. For now, diversions remain the most viable short-term measure to prioritise safety, even as longer-term solutions begin to take shape in the form of new regional airports and upgraded aviation facilities.
