A medical evacuation flight from Ranchi to Delhi crashed in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday evening, killing all seven people on board.
The air ambulance, operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, went down near Simariya shortly after taking off from Ranchi airport at 7:11 pm. The aircraft, a Beechcraft C90 (registration VT-AJV), was carrying two crew members, a critically ill patient, and four family members. Authorities confirmed there were no survivors.
Contact Lost Amid Bad Weather
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the flight initially established contact with Kolkata Air Traffic Control but later requested a deviation due to adverse weather. At around 7:34 pm, both radar and communication were lost while the plane was approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi.
Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G said preliminary reports suggest the crash may have been caused by a thunderstorm. Rescue teams faced difficulties reaching the forested crash site.
Crash Site and Rescue Operations
The aircraft came down near Karmatand in Chatra district. Chatra Superintendent of Police Sumit Kumar Agarwal confirmed authorities received information about the crash around 10 pm. Efforts are ongoing to recover the wreckage and the black box for investigation.
Patient Being Transported for Critical Care
The air ambulance was carrying 41-year-old Sanjay Kumar, a burn patient from Chandwa in Latehar district, to Delhi for advanced treatment. Hospital officials from Dev Kamal Hospital in Ranchi said the patient had been admitted on February 16 with nearly 65% burn injuries, and his family arranged the medical evacuation.
- Victims Identified
- The deceased have been confirmed as:
- Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat
- Captain Savrajdeep Singh
- Sanjay Kumar
- Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta
- Sachin Kumar Mishra
- Archana Devi
- Dhuru Kumar
- Investigation Launched
The DGCA and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have initiated a probe. Jharkhand authorities, including Minister Irfan Ansari, confirmed that all necessary resources are being deployed for rescue and investigation. Ranchi Airport officials noted that while bad weather appears to be a factor, the exact cause will be determined after a detailed probe.
The tragic crash highlights the challenges faced by air ambulance services during severe weather conditions and has prompted authorities to review operational safety measures.
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