Daijiworld Media Network - Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Jan 10: At least six people, including four passengers and two crew members, were injured on Saturday when a nine-seater IndiaOne Air aircraft made an emergency crash landing in a field roughly 10 km from Rourkela airstrip in Odisha, officials confirmed.

The plane, a Cessna 208 Grand Caravan EX (Registration VT-KSS), was operating a regular regional flight from Rourkela to Bhubaneswar when it experienced a critical technical malfunction just before landing. Local authorities confirmed that the occupants included four passengers and two crew members.

The pilot sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital. “The aircraft reported a technical malfunction moments before its scheduled landing. Emergency protocols were immediately activated after the pilot alerted air traffic control,” said a senior district official.

Villagers in the vicinity were first on the scene and helped evacuate passengers from the wreckage. Police and medical teams from Rourkela soon arrived and transferred the injured to a local government hospital. Reports indicated that the passengers sustained minor fractures and bruises, while the pilot remains in critical condition.

Sources suggested the plane’s engine stalled mid-air, forcing the pilot to attempt a landing in an open field to avoid residential areas. Aviation experts praised the pilot’s quick thinking, noting that steering the aircraft toward open ground likely prevented a major disaster.

Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed concern over the incident and directed officials to ensure prompt and adequate medical care for all victims.

The aircraft, operated by a private firm for regional transit, has been cordoned off, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will conduct a full investigation into the crash.