Bhubaneswar, Jan 10 || At least six people, including four passengers and two crew members, sustained injuries on Saturday after a nine-seater aircraft made an emergency crash landing in a field approximately 10 km from the Rourkela airstrip in Odisha, officials confirmed.
The IndiaOne Air aircraft, a Cessna 208 Grand Caravan EX (Registration VT-KSS), was operating a regular regional connectivity flight from Rourkela to Bhubaneswar when it encountered a critical technical malfunction moments before landing.
Local authorities confirmed that the occupants comprised four passengers and two crew members after the plane made a soft landing.
The pilot sustained serious injuries in the incident, and he has been rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
"The aircraft reported a technical malfunction moments before its scheduled landing. Emergency protocols were activated immediately after the pilot alerted the air traffic control," a senior district official stated.