Security Delay at Pune Airport Forces Six Young Shooters to miss Goa Flight

Six underage rifle and pistol shooters from Pune missed their flight to Goa on Tuesday, jeopardising their participation in the 12th West Zone Shooting Championship scheduled to begin Wednesday morning. The incident stemmed from prolonged security clearances for their firearms and ammunition at Pune International Airport, despite the athletes arriving hours early with all required documentation. The affected shooters, all under 18 and trainees at the Gun For Glory academy, were set to board Akasa Air flight QP 1143 departing at 5:30 p.m.

The athletes, accompanied by a coach and parents, reached the airport between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., but clearance for the shooting equipment was delayed until nearly 5 p.m. Atul Kshirsagar, father of one shooter, explained that firearms and ammunition are standardly packed separately, with airlines taking custody after verification and issuing receipts for retrieval at the destination.

Airport staff reportedly insisted ammunition could not be carried, leading to the holdup. While one female shooter boarded without her kit, the remaining six, along with their coach and a parent, were denied entry, watching the flight depart without them. As of late Tuesday, five shooters and family members remained at the airport, with the group scrambling for alternatives.

Gun For Glory, a premier shooting academy founded in 2011 by Olympic medallist Gagan Narang and Pawan Singh to nurture young talent, voiced strong dismay on X, accusing Akasa Air staff of uncooperative delays and negligence. The academy highlighted that the early arrival should have ensured smooth facilitation, but the mishandling left athletes stranded and potentially unable to compete effectively.

Social activist Vijay Kumbhar amplified the issue on X, tagging authorities including Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, urging intervention amid broader concerns over airport mismanagement during recent rains that caused flight disruptions. The championship, organised by the National Rifle Association of India, features zonal competitions essential for national selection and youth development in the sport.

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Akasa Air responded promptly on X, attributing the delay to "extended security procedures involving baggage that contained specialised shooting equipment" and reaffirming passenger well-being as a priority. The airline committed to alternative arrangements, with the six shooters now booked on an early Wednesday morning flight via another carrier to minimise impact.

However, the academy questioned accountability for the disruption, emphasising the athletes' preparation and the event's tight timeline. This episode underscores ongoing challenges in air travel for sports personnel carrying regulated equipment, where protocols for firearms—governed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation—require meticulous handling to balance security and facilitation.

The incident has sparked calls for streamlined processes at Indian airports to support emerging athletes, particularly in Olympic disciplines like shooting, where India has seen rising success since the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Gun For Glory, accredited under the Khelo India scheme, has produced national-level talents, and such setbacks could hinder their progress. As the shooters race to Goa, the episode highlights the need for better coordination between airlines, security agencies, and sports bodies to prevent future disruptions.

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