Odisha Plane Crash: Six people injured as nine-seater aircraft makes crash landing near Rourkela

A nine-seater aircraft of a private airline crash landed near Odisha's Rourkela on Saturday, leaving at least six people injured.

"One A-1 nine-seater private flight carrying six passengers from Rourkela to Bhubaneswar has met with an accident. The passengers have sustained minor injuries and are stable. It took place at Jalda, 10 kilometres from Rourkela. By the grace of God, this is not a major accident," Odisha's Commerce and Transport minister B B Jena told reporters.

Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani told PTI there were four passengers, including two women and two pilots, in the aircraft. Captain Naveen and Captain Tarun were piloting the plane, he added. Two seriously injured persons are admitted to the ICU. They are Captain Naveen with head injury and another person, the SP said.

Airport authorities share details of India One Airlines flight crash

"The flight was on its way from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela. It made a crash landing 10 km before Rourkela. There were 4 passengers and 2 crew members. All are safe. The flight is India One Airlines. The number of the flight is C-208," Director of Biju Patnaik International Airport, Prasanna Pradhan said, as reported by PTI.

Jena said the state government has apprised the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of the situation. "Our director will also soon visit the accident site," he added.

As per the regulations, the airline shall be reporting the details to the DGCA / Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) for further actions, an airport official told PTI.

"Three passengers are treated at J P Hospital, and two pilots and one passenger are treated at Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH). All injured persons are under medical treatment/ observation and no fatalities," the Directorate of Aviation, Bhubaneswar, said in a statement.

Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport department, Usha Padhee said that a control room has been set up at the Directorate of Civil Aviation (Landline: 0674-2596128; Mobile: 9861096371 ).

DGCA Team has started from Bhubaneswar/ Kolkata and expected to reach Rourkela this evening. The AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) is expected to reach for detailed investigation by Sunday, she said.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the situation and directed the concerned officials to extend all support from the state to the passengers, pilots and authorities.

"I am deeply saddened to learn about the plane crash that occurred in Rourkela. The news that all passengers are safe by the grace of Lord Jagannath is reassuring. I have directed that the best medical services be provided to those injured in this incident. I am personally monitoring the situation. I am praying to Lord Sri Jagannath for the swift recovery of all," the chief minister said in a post on X.

Upon receiving the information, fire units from Rourkela Fire Station and Panposh Fire Station were rushed to the scene for rescue efforts. The injured were immediately shifted to the nearest hospital for treatment.

Odisha plane crash: How it happened?

Airport sources told PTI that it was a regular flight between Rourkela and Bhubaneswar run by a private operator. The officials told the news agency that India One Air type of aircraft (Caravan 208) bearing Regn. VT-KSS was flying from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela. The aircraft departed Bhubaneswar at 12:27 pm with two pilots and four passengers.

However, around 10 kilometres short of reaching Rourkela, the aircraft made an emergency crash landing at a place near Jalda. "Pilots have ensured the landing due to which lives have been saved," the official said, adding that district administration officials reached the spot and shifted the injured pilots and passengers to the medical facilities at Rourkela.

(With inputs from PTI)