Rourkela charter aircraft crash-landing: Transport Minister reviews site, assures safety and thorough Probe

Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Jena on Monday visited the site of the charter aircraft emergency landing in Rourkela and described the incident as unfortunate. He said the state government is committed to providing the best possible medical care to those injured and ensuring comprehensive safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

The Minister stated that an investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the incident. “We are concerned about why this accident occurred. A detailed inquiry is being conducted to ensure such incidents are not repeated,” he said.

He added that discussions would be held with senior departmental officials to examine the circumstances that led to the aircraft being forced to make an emergency landing.

DGCA and AAIB Teams Inspect Accident Site

Earlier, teams from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) carried out a detailed inspection of the accident site. The teams arrived from Delhi, Kolkata, and Bhubaneswar and conducted a ground-level assessment on Saturday.

On Sunday, Transport Secretary Usha Padhee also visited the site and held extensive discussions with technical experts regarding various aspects of the incident. She later visited the hospital to enquire about the condition of the injured passengers and crew.

Government Reiterates Commitment to Flight Safety

Speaking to reporters, the Transport Minister said the government’s priority is passenger safety. “Our foremost concern is that people remain safe while availing air travel services. I visited the site again as per the directions of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, and an AAIB team has been present here since yesterday,” he said.

He further added that senior officials, including the Transport Director and the Transport Secretary, have been closely monitoring the situation. “A thorough investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident. We want to assure people that air travel is safe, and there is no reason for fear,” the Minister said.

Condition of Injured Passengers and Pilots

After inspecting the site, the Transport Minister visited JP Hospital in Rourkela and met the injured passengers and pilots. JP Hospital Chairman Sanjay Bansal said one injured passenger remains on ventilator support due to pre-existing heart and kidney ailments but is showing signs of improvement.

“The patient is recovering steadily, and we are hopeful of a positive outcome. Both pilots have undergone the necessary surgeries and are stable. They are currently in the ICU and are out of danger,” Bansal said.

A senior doctor at the hospital said a medical team from Bhubaneswar reviewed the patients’ condition on Sunday and expressed satisfaction with the treatment being provided. “Two passengers are recovering well, though one remains under close observation. Both pilots are much better now and responding well to treatment,” the doctor said.

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The doctor added that the Transport Minister had interacted with the pilots and their families, commending the pilots for their calm handling of the situation, which ensured that no lives were lost.