CM Naveen Patnaik Unveils the Iconic Dakota Aircraft at Biju Patnaik International Airport

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled the iconic Dakota aircraft at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar.

“It is a matter of pride for the Odisha government to unveil the Dakota DC-3 aircraft which was relocated from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata to Biju Patnaik International Airport. Public display of the aircraft will serve as an embodiment of the former Chief Minister’s courage and adventurism, and inspire people of Odisha to dream big,” a release by the Commerce and Transport department read.

On January 18, the Dakota aircraft of former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik reached the state from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata.

Notably, Biju Patnaik, a skilled pilot, had used a Dakota aircraft to rescue erstwhile Indonesian Vice President Muhammad Hatta and Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir in 1947. For this, the  Indonesian government had twice awarded Biju Patnaik with Bhumiputra – the highest civilian award in the country.

The former Chief Minister, before joining politics, had floated Kalinga Airlines which had a fleet of 15 Dakotas. The company had its headquarters in Kolkata. The airlines used to provide services to the Army for transporting jawans and airdropping supplies.