Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Jena arrived in Rourkela on Monday to inspect the site where an IndiaOne Air charter flight was forced into a harrowing emergency landing over the weekend. Speaking at the scene, the Minister labelled the accident "unfortunate" but praised the pilots' quick thinking, which prevented any loss of life.
The visit comes as a high-level investigation gathers steam. Teams from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the DGCA, arriving from Delhi, Kolkata, and Bhubaneswar, have been conducting a meticulous ground-level assessment since Saturday. Minister Jena, acting on instructions from Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, emphasised that the state is determined to get to the bottom of what went wrong. "We are deeply concerned about why this happened," he told reporters, adding that he would be holding extensive debriefs with senior aviation officials to review safety protocols and ensure such a close call isn't repeated.
The Transport Secretary, Usha Padhee, had already paved the way with a site visit on Sunday, where she consulted with technical experts and checked in on the survivors. Minister Jena followed suit by visiting JP Hospital in Rourkela to meet with the injured passengers and the flight crew.
The hospital’s chairman, Sanjay Bansal, provided a cautiously optimistic update on their recovery. While one passenger remains on a ventilator — complicated by existing heart and kidney issues — medical staff say they are seeing steady signs of improvement. The two pilots, who bore much of the impact, have successfully undergone surgery and are now stable in the ICU.
A medical team from Bhubaneswar has also reviewed the cases and expressed satisfaction with the level of care. During his visit, the Minister took a moment to speak with the pilots and their families, reportedly thanking the crew for their composure during the 'Mayday' emergency, which ultimately saved the lives of those on board. As the AAIB continues its technical probe, Jena sought to reassure the public that the government is treating passenger safety as its "foremost priority."
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