Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Jena on Monday visited the site of the charter aircraft emergency landing in Rourkela, describing the incident as unfortunate and assuring that passenger safety remains the state government’s top priority.
The Minister said the government is committed to providing the best possible medical care to those injured and ensuring that comprehensive safety measures are strengthened to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“We are deeply concerned about why this incident occurred. A detailed investigation is underway to identify the cause and ensure such situations do not recur,” the Minister said while speaking to reporters.
He added that discussions would be held with senior officials of the Transport Department to thoroughly 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) conducted a detailed inspection of the accident site. The expert teams arrived from Delhi, Kolkata, and Bhubaneswar, carrying out a comprehensive ground-level assessment on Saturday.
On Sunday, Transport Secretary Usha Padhee also visited the site and held extensive discussions with technical experts on various operational and safety aspects of the incident. She later visited JP Hospital in Rourkela to enquire about the health condition of the injured passengers and crew members.
Government Reiterates Commitment to Aviation Safety
Reaffirming the government’s focus on safety, the Transport Minister said, “Our foremost concern is the safety of passengers using air travel services. I visited the site again on the directions of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, and the AAIB team has been stationed here since yesterday.”
He further noted that senior officials, including the Transport Director and Transport Secretary, are closely monitoring developments. “A thorough probe is being conducted to determine the exact cause. People should be assured that air travel remains safe and there is no cause for alarm,” he added.
Condition of Injured Passengers and Pilots
Following the site inspection, the Transport Minister visited JP Hospital, where he 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 conditions, but is showing gradual improvement.
“The patient is recovering steadily, and we are optimistic. Both pilots have undergone required surgeries and are stable. They are currently in the ICU and out of danger,” Bansal said.
A senior doctor confirmed that a special medical team from Bhubaneswar reviewed the patients’ condition on Sunday and expressed satisfaction with the treatment being provided. “Two passengers are recovering well, while one remains under close observation. Both pilots are responding positively to treatment,” the doctor said.
The doctor also noted that the Transport Minister interacted with the pilots and their families, commending the pilots for their calm and professional handling of the situation, which helped prevent loss of life.
