Passengers who travelled on an IndiaOne Air aircraft just hours before it was involved in a dramatic force-landing incident have taken to social media to recount their experiences, with some recalling prior technical problems. The nine-seater plane made an emergency landing in an open field near Rourkela on Saturday, injuring all six people on board.
Passenger Accounts Reveal Prior Technical Issues
Soumya Ranjan Biswal, a techie from Bhubaneswar, had flown on the same aircraft to Rourkela on Friday. He was waiting at Rourkela airport on Saturday for his return flight to Bhubaneswar when news broke of the accident. Biswal revealed on social media platform X that he had suspected a technical fault during his journey a day earlier.
He stated that his Friday flight from Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar was delayed due to a technical issue. "I travelled on the same aircraft yesterday; the flight was delayed from Bhubaneswar due to some technical issue, and it seems the problem was not resolved," Biswal wrote. His post highlights a potential unresolved fault that preceded the Saturday incident.
A Miraculous Escape and Expressions of Relief
The force-landing occurred on Saturday while the aircraft was en route from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela. All six individuals on board – four passengers and two pilots – sustained injuries but escaped miraculously. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local aviation community and among frequent flyers on regional routes.
In a contrasting account, a group of doctors from SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack expressed profound relief. They had travelled on the same aircraft on Saturday morning, completing a safe journey from Rourkela to Bhubaneswar just before the ill-fated flight.
Dr. Abinash Mishra, one of the doctors, shared his thoughts in a social media post. "Today we travelled on the flight in the morning and safely reached Bhubaneswar. By the grace of the Almighty, it was a pleasant and smooth journey," he wrote. He added that learning about the subsequent accident served as a stark reminder of life's uncertainty.
Investigation and Aftermath
The incident near Rourkela has raised serious questions about aircraft maintenance and safety protocols for smaller regional carriers. While the exact cause of the forced landing is under investigation by aviation authorities, passenger testimonies pointing to prior technical glitches will likely be a crucial part of the probe.
The sharing of experiences on social media by passengers like Biswal and Dr. Mishra provides a immediate, first-hand perspective on the events leading up to and following the accident. Their accounts underscore the thin line between a routine flight and an emergency, emphasizing the critical importance of rigorous pre-flight checks and maintenance.
