India One Air Flight Makes Forced Landing Near Rourkela; All Six Onboard Safe

Bhubaneswar: An India One Air aircraft (Caravan 208) operating a flight from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela made a forced landing near Jalda, around eight nautical miles short of Rourkela, on Saturday afternoon. All six persons onboard — two pilots and four passengers — survived, with no fatalities reported.

The aircraft, bearing registration VT-KSS, departed Bhubaneswar at 12.27 pm. According to official sources, the pilots took timely and decisive action to execute a safe forced landing, which helped prevent loss of life.

Upon receiving information, the district administration immediately rushed to the site and shifted the injured pilots and passengers to medical facilities in Rourkela. Initially, three passengers were treated at JP Hospital, while two pilots and one passenger were admitted to Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH). Later, all six occupants were shifted to JP Hospital, Rourkela, where they are currently under treatment.

Hospital authorities said all six have been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Of them, five are stable and out of danger, while one remains under medical observation. A dedicated team of doctors is closely monitoring their condition.

The incident has been reported to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and other concerned authorities. As per aviation regulations, the airline will submit a detailed report to the DGCA and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) for further action.

The Directorate of Civil Aviation under the Commerce & Transport Department is closely monitoring the situation and is extending all necessary support to passengers through the district administration, as well as coordinating with the airline. A control room has been set up at the Directorate of Civil Aviation to assist with information and coordination.

The Chief Minister reviewed the situation and directed officials to extend all possible support to the passengers, pilots and investigating authorities. The Commerce & Transport Minister is also monitoring the developments continuously. Senior officials, including the Principal Secretary, Commerce & Transport, are coordinating with authorities from both the Government of Odisha and the Government of India.

A DGCA team has departed from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata and is expected to reach Rourkela by evening, while an AAIB team is likely to arrive by Sunday for a detailed investigation. Two officials from the Directorate of Civil Aviation have already been dispatched to Rourkela for coordination with all stakeholders.

The District Collector and Superintendent of Police are personally overseeing the situation on the ground and ensuring necessary assistance. At JP Hospital, Dr. Chandan Bansal, Managing Director of Jaiprakash Hospital and Research Centre Pvt. Ltd., along with Tundra Mishra, Corporate Relations Officer, are supervising the medical management of the patients.