Indian Air Force orders court of inquiry into Sukhoi’s hard landing at Pune airport

New Delhi/Pune: The Indian Air Force on Saturday ordered a court of inquiry into the hard landing of a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet in Pune, where flight operations have resumed after being closed for nearly 10 hours at night. Indian Air Force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jaideep Singh confirmed the investigation. He also said: “Last night, we were ready to remove aircraft from the runway and put the runway into use. The airport started operations this morning.” Senior officials said investigators will examine a variety of factors, including the plane’s vertical speed when it landed and the pilot’s reaction. “Typically, a hard landing on any fighter jet is caused by a number of factors. The technical team will thoroughly review each system to identify any technical errors. One of the key elements is the hydropneumatic system. “This will help determine the impact of the landing,” an official said on condition of anonymity. The plane’s landing gear malfunctioned while landing on Friday, leaving it stranded on the runway.