Bhubaneswar: A nine-seater aircraft operated by IndiaOne Air made a dramatic emergency landing near Rourkela in Odisha on Saturday after the crew issued a Mayday call mid-flight, leaving all six people on board injured but alive, officials said.
The Cessna Grand Caravan EX was operating a UDAN regional service from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela and departed at around 12.27 pm. About eight nautical miles short of the runway, the pilots reported a possible low air pressure issue and executed a controlled forced landing near Jalda in Sundargarh district, around 15–20 km from Rourkela airport.
Captain Naveen Kadanga, co-pilot Tarun Srivastav and four passengers sustained injuries in the belly landing. District authorities rushed to the site soon after receiving the alert and shifted all six to medical facilities in Rourkela. Three passengers are being treated at JP Hospital, while the two pilots and one passenger are under care at Rourkela Government Hospital. Officials said all are stable and under observation.
Aviation and state officials praised the crew’s presence of mind, noting that the controlled landing prevented a far more serious outcome. “The pilots executed a precise forced landing, which helped avert loss of life,” an official said.
The incident has been reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). As per protocol, the airline will submit a detailed report, and a technical investigation has been ordered to determine the cause. Odisha’s Directorate of Civil Aviation said it is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the district administration.
In a post on X, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said he was deeply distressed by the aircraft accident and expressed relief that all those on board are safe though injured. “I have directed officials to ensure that the injured receive the best possible medical care without delay, and I am personally monitoring the situation. I pray at the feet of Lord Jagannath for the speedy recovery of everyone affected,” he wrote.
Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena said the six injured are stable and appealed to the public not to panic, assuring that steps will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
IndiaOne Air is expected to issue a separate statement on the emergency landing.
