A passenger injured in last month's aircraft force-landing near Rourkela has died at a private hospital. The tragic death occurred on Saturday afternoon, just moments before planned medical evacuation to Mumbai.
Victim Succumbs to Heart Attack During Transfer
The deceased has been identified as Susanta Kumar Biswal, a 47-year-old crane supervisor from Vedvyas Nadiatola area of Rourkela. He had been undergoing continuous treatment since the January 10 incident when the nine-seater aircraft made an emergency landing.
Hospital authorities issued a statement on Saturday evening confirming the unfortunate development. According to their medical report, Biswal suffered from pre-existing heart and renal conditions. His health remained critical despite receiving intensive care at the facility.
Condition Deteriorated Before Planned Evacuation
The hospital statement revealed that Biswal's condition worsened significantly after he developed a lung infection. Medical teams coordinated efforts for advanced life-saving care, arranging air evacuation to Mumbai for specialized treatment.
"Despite timely medical intervention and coordinated efforts for advanced life-saving care, the patient unfortunately suffered a massive heart attack while being shifted to an air ambulance," the hospital statement explained. Medical staff declared him dead at 4:23 PM on Saturday.
Family Had Requested Urgent Evacuation
Sources indicate that Biswal's family had approached the state transport department two days earlier. They requested urgent air evacuation arrangements due to his deteriorating medical condition. An air ambulance from Mumbai had already reached Rourkela airport on Saturday when the tragedy unfolded.
Recalling the January 10 Incident
The original incident occurred on January 10 when an IndiaOne Air aircraft was flying from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela. Reports indicate the aircraft scraped a high-tension electric wire during its approach. This forced an emergency landing in a field at Kainser village, approximately 10 kilometers from Rourkela airport.
All six people aboard the aircraft sustained injuries in the incident. The group included four passengers and two pilots. Local residents played a crucial role in rescuing the injured individuals from the crash site.
Surviving Family Members
Susanta Kumar Biswal leaves behind his wife and two sons aged 22 and 15. His elder son currently studies at a private engineering college in Bhubaneswar. The family has lost their primary breadwinner in this tragic sequence of events.
The January incident had already caused significant trauma to all involved. Biswal's death adds another layer of tragedy to the unfortunate aviation accident that occurred near the industrial city of Rourkela.
