ISLAMABAD: A dramatic incident unfolded in Odisha’s skies on Saturday whenan IndiaOne Air aircraft operating a scheduled regional flight fromBhubaneswar to Rourkela executed a forced landing in an open fieldapproximately 10 kilometres short of its destination, leaving all sixpeople on board injured but miraculously alive. The Cessna 208 GrandCaravan EX, registered VT-KSS, declared a Mayday call to air trafficcontrol amid a sudden technical snag, raising immediate concerns aboutaviation safety in India’s underserved regional routes. Eyewitnesses andofficials described how the pilots’ swift decision-making averted apotential catastrophe in what could have been a far more tragic outcome forpassengers relying on these vital connectivity links.
The flight, designated IOA102, departed from Biju Patnaik InternationalAirport in Bhubaneswar at approximately 12:25 pm IST with two experiencedpilots and four passengers aboard the nine-seater single-engine turbopropaircraft. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA),the crew reported a critical malfunction roughly midway through the shortjourney, prompting the emergency declaration at 13:14 pm. The aircraft thencarried out a controlled yet forceful landing at 13:20 pm in an open areanear Kansor and Jalda villages in Sundargarh district. Preliminary reportsindicate the issue may have involved a sudden pressure drop orengine-related problem, causing the plane to lose balance during its finalapproach.
All six individuals sustained injuries during the impact, with varyingdegrees of severity, including the pilot who reportedly suffered moreserious harm while ensuring a safer touchdown for others. Local authoritiesquickly mobilised emergency services, shifting the victims to nearbymedical facilities in Rourkela for treatment and observation. Officialsconfirmed that none of the injuries were life-threatening, and allpassengers and crew remained stable following initial assessments. Theswift response from ground teams, combined with the pilots’ handling of thecrisis, has been widely praised as instrumental in preventing fatalities inthis incident involving a small commuter aircraft.
IndiaOne Air, a relatively new regional carrier based in Ahmedabad andoperating since 2022, specialises in connecting tier-2 and tier-3 citiesunder government-supported viability gap funding schemes. The airlinemaintains a fleet of three Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft, designedspecifically for short-haul operations in challenging terrains and smallerairstrips. The Bhubaneswar-Rourkela route, recently expanded to enhanceintra-Odisha connectivity, exemplifies such initiatives aimed at boostingeconomic activity in industrial hubs like Rourkela. However, this event hassparked discussions on the reliability of single-engine operations inadverse conditions and the adequacy of maintenance protocols for thesevital but demanding services.
Odisha’s Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena described theincident as resulting from a sudden pressure drop that caused the aircraftto lose balance, leading to the crash landing. He assured that the stategovernment had immediately informed the DGCA and initiated coordination forrelief efforts. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed relief that nolives were lost, attributing the safe outcome to divine grace, and directedauthorities to provide the best possible medical care while personallymonitoring the situation. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)has been tasked with a thorough probe to determine the exact cause,including analysis of flight data recorders, maintenance records, andweather conditions at the time.
This occurrence underscores broader challenges in India’s regional aviationsector, where operators like IndiaOne Air play a crucial role in bridgingconnectivity gaps but face heightened scrutiny over safety standards.Aviation experts note that single-engine turboprops, while economical andversatile, require stringent operational oversight, particularly duringtakeoffs and landings in variable regional weather. The DGCA is expected toreview the airline’s procedures as part of its ongoing oversight,potentially influencing future expansions of similar routes acrossunderserved areas.
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The incident has prompted renewed calls for enhanced safety measures incommuter aviation, even as authorities commend the professionalismdisplayed in averting a worse tragedy. As investigations continue, thefocus remains on ensuring such disruptions do not deter progress inregional air travel connectivity.
Source:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/india-one-air-aircraft-crashes-near-rourkela-no-fatalities/articleshow/126451083.cms
Tags: India, Odisha, IndiaOne Air, Cessna 208, DGCA
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