Pune: Airport director Santosh Dhoke on Thursday expressed concerns over passengers taking photographs and videos in the restricted airside area despite preventive measures, and dumping of garbage in the facility's vicinity.
Dhoke said the garbage situation near the airport had improved significantly, but not completely resolved. "Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has done commendable work through daily garbage collection and consistent planning, but some people still dump waste in undesignated areas. This poses safety risks," he said.
The presence of garbage attracts stray dogs towards the airport, even on the runway. An Air India Express flight from Bhubaneswar to Pune had to abort landing on June 28 last year because of a dog on the runway. A stray dog died after coming under the wheels of a taxiing SpiceJet flight to Ahmedabad on Feb 13 this year.
Trash near airports triggers bird hits, too. A bird strike was detected after an Air India's aircraft from Delhi landed in Pune on June 21 last year. A Delhi-Pune IndiGo flight was diverted to Surat on June 5, 2025, because of heavy bird activity near the runway.
Airport director Dhoke was visibly upset over rampant photography and videography at the airport. "There is no provision under which we can take action in the form of penalties against such flyers. While we intend to enhance these measures, passengers must understand the sensitivity of the issue and follow the rules," he said.
The airport authorities have taken several steps, including announcements inside the terminal and on aircraft, and signages, to restrict passengers from taking photographs in the facility. The issue propped up last week following the runway shutdown after hard landing of a fighter aircraft. Shortly after the incident, social media platforms were flooded with images and videos captured from the airport's airside.
24/04/2026 Times of India
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
0 Post a Comment:
Post a Comment