Three hour baggage security check at Pune airport forces shooters to miss flight for tournament | More sports News
Six young rifle and pistol shooters from Pune missed their Akasa Air flight to Goa on Tuesday due to extended security procedures for their firearms and ammunition at the Pune airport, impacting their participation in the 12th West Zone Shooting Championship scheduled for Wednesday morning.The athletes, all under 18 years of age, were from ‘Gun For Glory’, a shooting academy established by Olympian Gagan Narang.The group, consisting of seven shooters and four family members, arrived at the airport between 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm for their 5:30 pm flight.According to Atul Kshirsagar, a shooter’s father, the airport staff delayed weapons and ammunition clearance until 5 pm, citing concerns about ammunition carriage.
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“However, the airport staff delayed clearance of the weapons and ammunition till 5 pm, saying the shooters cannot carry ammunition with them. In reality, no shooter carries the gun and ammunition together. Both are packed separately, and during clearance, the airline takes custody of the shooting kit, issues a receipt, and the kit is handed back at the destination against the receipt,” Kshirsagar said.Only one girl shooter managed to board the flight without her kit, while six others were left behind.Gun For Glory expressed their frustration on social media platform X: “Very disappointing service by @AkasaAir. Our athletes travelling from Pune to Goa for the 12th West Zone Shooting Championship reached the airport 3.5 hours early with all the required documents for rifles and pistols. Instead of smooth facilitation, the staff delayed the process, did not cooperate at the counter, and eventually denied boarding to athletes, coach, and parent.“
Gun For Glory expressed disappointment over the incident in a post on X.
The academy also noted that the shooter who boarded had her rifle held back at Pune airport by Akasa staff despite proper check-in procedures.“The Championship starts tomorrow (Wednesday), and this negligence has left athletes stranded, directly affecting their participation and performance. Who will take responsibility for this?” the academy added.Akasa Air responded to the situation on X: “A team of professional rifle shooters booked on Akasa Air flight QP 1143 from Pune to Goa on September 16 were regrettably unable to board due to extended security procedures involving their baggage that contained specialised shooting equipment.”The airline further stated: “Our on-ground teams are providing all necessary assistance, and alternate travel arrangements are being organised for them to reach the competition in Goa. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused. At Akasa Air, passenger well-being is our topmost priority, and we continue to work towards ensuring that necessary protocols coexist seamlessly with a smooth and reliable travel experience.“The six affected shooters planned to travel to Goa early Wednesday morning with another airline, while five shooters and their family members remained at the airport late Tuesday evening.
