In a tense aviation incident on Saturday afternoon, a regional aircraft operated by India One Air was forced to make an emergency landing in Odisha. The event unfolded near Jalda, approximately eight nautical miles short of its intended destination, Rourkela.
Details of the Emergency Landing
The aircraft involved was a Cessna Grand Caravan 208, bearing the registration VT-KSS. It had taken off from Bhubaneswar at 12:27 hours on its scheduled commuter service to Rourkela. On board were two pilots and four passengers, totaling six individuals.
According to an official release from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the pilots were compelled to execute a forced landing as the aircraft approached Rourkela. The regulatory body commended the cockpit crew, stating, "Pilots have ensured the landing due to which lives have been saved."
Immediate Response and Medical Care
Following the emergency landing, local authorities swiftly responded to the scene. The district administration reached the site and coordinated the transfer of all six individuals from the aircraft to medical facilities in Rourkela for necessary care.
Officials confirmed that all passengers and crew survived the incident. They are currently under medical treatment and observation. Crucially, the authorities have reported no fatalities from the accident.
Investigation and Airline Background
The accident has been formally reported to both the DGCA and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) for a thorough investigation to determine the cause. The Odisha state government has stated it is closely monitoring the situation.
India One Air, the operator of the flight, is a scheduled commuter airline based in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It commenced operations in 2022 and maintains a fleet of three Cessna Grand C208B aircraft. The airline focuses on providing regional connectivity within Odisha and to other tier 3 cities in neighboring states, with support from the Government of Odisha's Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme.
