On the evening of April 17, an incident involving an aircraft from the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Pune International Airport resulted in the temporary closure of the runway. Consequently, multiple flights that were intended to land at the airport had to be redirected to alternative locations.
The IAF’s Media Coordination Centre shared an update on their X account at 11:41 PM, confirming that the runway was currently out of service due to the aforementioned incident involving one of its aircraft. The post reassured the public that the aircrew was unharmed and that there was no damage to any civilian properties. Furthermore, efforts were being made to restore the runway to operational status as swiftly as possible to resume normal flight operations.
Flight tracking data from Flight Radar 24 indicated that at least eight aircraft scheduled for arrival at Pune International Airport were rerouted to other airports, including Surat International Airport, Goa Manohar International Airport, Navi Mumbai International Airport, Chennai International Airport, and Coimbatore International Airport.
This situation is still unfolding and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Soham Shah serves as a Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Pune. He holds a journalism degree and has a background in fact-checking, which informs his thorough and detail-oriented reporting style.
Professional Background
In his role, Soham covers education and urban affairs in Pune, with a primary focus on educational topics while also addressing civic issues, public health, human rights, and state-level politics.
Key Strength
Soham is particularly skilled in data-driven journalism, concentrating on the implications of government policies, educational reports, and public infrastructure developments.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His work in late 2025 marks a shift from educational reporting to more investigative and human rights-focused stories:
- Investigations & Governance
- “Express Impact: Mother’s name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site” (Dec 20, 2025): An examination of a policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) that emerged in response to earlier discussions about gender inclusivity in official documents.
- “44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest” (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative report revealing real estate irregularities connected to influential political families.
- Education & Campus Life
- “Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts” (Sept 12, 2025): An in-depth look at the staffing shortages impacting Savitribai Phule Pune University.
- “Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6” (July 2): A detailed analysis of the contentious decision to implement a third language requirement from Class 1.
- “Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report” (Jan 2025): A report addressing the discrepancies in educational statistics amidst increasing student enrollments.
- Human Rights & Social Issues
- “Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend” (Dec 17, 2025): A poignant opinion piece discussing the issues of honor killings and societal norms surrounding love in contemporary India.
- “‘People disrespect the disabled’: Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians” (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident who has faced severe online harassment, shedding light on disability rights and cyberbullying.
Signature Style
Soham is recognized for his advocacy of civil liberties, often highlighting the rights of marginalized groups—ranging from students advocating for campus democracy to residents facing challenges with urban infrastructure. His reporting frequently connects local Pune issues to broader national discussions concerning law and civil rights.
X (Twitter): @SohamShah07
