Pune Airport: Peacock Sighting Near Runway Sparks Bird Strike Fears
Representatives Image (AI)
Pune: Passengers at Pune airport raised safety concerns on Saturday morning after three peacocks were spotted near the runway. The incident came to light when Gaurav Chattur, a Pune resident traveling with his son on SpiceJet flight SG937 to Delhi, noticed the birds around 7:20am as the plane was taxiing. Chattur, who was seated near the cockpit in seat 1A, later shared the observation on social media X handle, noting the birds were just about 40 meters from the runway. However, he chose not to alert the cabin crew to avoid causing panic.
Responding to the issue, Pune Airport Director Santosh Dhoke clarified that the Indian Air Force (IAF), which manages the runway, is responsible for such matters. The IAF confirmed the presence of peacocks within the Airport Force Station (AFS) premises but dismissed any threat to flight operations.
A senior IAF official stated to TOI that peacocks typically remain on the ground or on low branches and have never approached the runway in the past two decades. “All necessary bird control measures are in place,” he assured. These include a 24×7 Bird Hazard Combat Team (BHCT), routine ornithological surveys, and multiple bird-scaring tools like crackers, reflectors, owl modules, and Xon guns.
“Peacocks feed in grassy areas of the base but avoid the runway,” the official added, emphasizing that no additional deployment from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is required.
Despite the reassurances, the incident adds to a series of wildlife-related concerns at the airport. In recent months, Pune airport has witnessed stray dogs and even a leopard entering restricted zones, raising broader questions about airport perimeter safety.
