Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik unveils Biju Patnaik's iconic "Dakota" aircraft for public display

Mar 05, 2023

Bhubaneswar, Mar 05 (ANI): Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on March 05 unveiled former CM Biju Patnaik’s iconic “Dakota” DC3 (AT-AUI) aircraft for public display at Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar. As per the Chief Minister’s office, “The iconic Dakota Aircraft belongs to erstwhile Kalinga Airlines and was founded by Ex-Chief Minister of Odisha, Biju Patnaik.” The Kalinga airlines operated nearly a dozen Dakotas and Naveen Patnaik’s father Biju Patnaik was its Chief Pilot. “This Aircraft was used by Biju Patnaik to rescue former Indonesian Vice-President Md. Hatta and former Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir. For his effort, he was given honorary citizenship of Indonesia and awarded the title of ‘Bhumi Putra’ by the Indonesian Government, a recognition rarely granted to a foreigner,” the statement from CMO said. With the efforts of the Odisha government, the Dakota Aircraft was shifted from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBI) in Kolkata to Bhubaneswar on January 18 this year by road. The display of this Aircraft is expected to inspire the people of Odisha and propel them to Dream Big.