Chartered aircraft ‘crash’ in Rourkela: Medical team deployed to assess health of injured passengers & crew

A specialised medical team from Bhubaneswar reached Rourkela on Sunday to assess the condition of those injured in a charter aircraft crash-landing that occurred on Saturday. Authorities said airlifting the injured for advanced treatment may be considered based on the medical evaluation.

The charter aircraft, carrying four passengers and two crew members, was forced to make an emergency landing near Rourkela after the pilot issued a Mayday call. All six occupants were reported to be in stable condition at the time of reporting.

Medical Assessment and Possible Airlifting

Sources said the Bhubaneswar-based medical team conducted an on-ground assessment of the injured passengers and crew. An air ambulance has also been kept on standby to facilitate the transfer of the injured if advanced medical care is required.

Transport Secretary Usha Padhee reached Rourkela on Sunday to review the situation and coordinate response measures with district and aviation officials.

AAIB and DGCA Launch Investigations

A team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is scheduled to arrive in Rourkela to conduct a detailed on-site inquiry into the incident. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will also carry out a parallel investigation.

Officials said the investigation will focus on the sequence of events leading to the forced landing, including possible technical or engine-related issues. The aircraft reportedly has a single engine, raising the possibility of engine failure as a contributing factor.

Two civil aviation officials from Bhubaneswar have already reached Rourkela to assist with coordination and preliminary assessment.

Sequence of Events Leading to Crash-Landing

According to official information, the charter aircraft took off from Bhubaneswar at 12:27 pm on Saturday with four passengers and two crew members on board. At around 1:14 pm, the pilot issued a Mayday call to Air Traffic Control. Communication was lost at 1:17 pm, after which the aircraft made a forced landing and met with an accident.

Local residents were the first to reach the site, rescuing all occupants and alerting emergency services. Reports indicated that fuel or oil was leaking from the aircraft at the time of rescue, adding to the risk at the crash site.

Passengers’ Condition and Next Steps

Officials said all injured passengers and crew members are stable. While arrangements are being made to shift some of the injured to Bhubaneswar for further treatment, relatives of Sunil Agarwal and Sabita Agarwal have indicated plans to airlift them to Mumbai for advanced medical care and will accompany them.

Also Read: DGCA, AAIB teams to probe chartered aircraft ‘crash’ in Rourkela

Investigators are expected to question the pilots as part of the inquiry, as teams from the DGCA, AAIB and local police continue efforts to determine the exact cause of the crash-landing.