A nine-seater Cessna 208 Grand Caravan EX operated by IndiaOne Air made an emergency crash landing in a field approximately 10 km from the Rourkela airstrip on Saturday. All six occupants—four passengers and two crew members—sustained injuries, with the pilot reportedly in critical condition, officials confirmed.
The IndiaOne Air aircraft, a Cessna 208 Grand Caravan EX (Registration VT-KSS) was operating a routine regional connectivity flight from Rourkela to Bhubaneswar when it encountered a technical malfunction moments after take-off.
Realising the engine had stalled, the pilot manoeuvred the plane toward an open field to avoid a potential disaster in nearby residential zones.
Local villagers were the first responders on the scene, successfully pulling the trapped occupants from the wreckage. Police teams and medical units from Rourkela reached the spot shortly after to shift the victims to a local government hospital.
Local authorities confirmed that the occupants comprised four passengers and two crew members after the plane made a soft landing.
While the four passengers are reported to be stable with minor fractures and bruises, the condition of the pilot was said to be critical. He has been rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
“The aircraft reported a technical malfunction moments before its scheduled landing. Emergency protocols were activated immediately after the pilot alerted the air traffic control,” a senior district official stated.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has expressed deep concern over the crash and has issued directives to the district administration to ensure the victims receive the highest quality medical care.
A private firm operated the plane, which was frequently used for regional transit.
Aviation experts noted that the pilot’s decision to steer the craft toward the open ground likely prevented a larger catastrophe.
Debris from the crash has been cordoned off for investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
