Pune: Midnight Fighter Jet Roar Startles Residents; IAF Says Routine Night Exercise
Pune: Midnight Fighter Jet Roar Startles Residents; IAF Says Routine Night Exercise
Pune, January 30, 2026: Panic briefly gripped several parts of Pune late Wednesday night after loud roaring sounds from fighter jets echoed across the city, jolting residents awake from their sleep. The deafening noise, heard between 1:30 am and 2:00 am, was reported from areas ranging from Kothrud to Lohegaon, leading to confusion and concern among citizens.
Many residents feared an emergency or unusual activity as the sound of aircraft flying at low altitude caused windows to rattle in several neighbourhoods, including Viman Nagar, Lohegaon, Dhanori, and adjoining areas.
As speculation grew, social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and WhatsApp were flooded with messages, with residents questioning the sudden night-time activity and the intensity of the noise.
Later, officials from the Indian Air Force’s Lohegaon Air Base clarified that there was no cause for alarm. The sounds were due to a routine night training exercise involving four Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets, conducted to practice operations under night and low-visibility conditions.
Authorities explained that Pune is a key Air Force base, and such exercises are carried out periodically. However, the unusually low altitude during the midnight drill amplified the noise, disturbing the city’s otherwise quiet night.
Residents have been advised not to panic during such exercises, which are part of standard defence preparedness protocols.
