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 went down near Simariya shortly after taking off from Ranchi airport at 7:11 pm. The aircraft, operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, was a Beechcraft C90 (registration VT-AJV) carrying two crew members, a critically ill patient, and four accompanying family members. Authorities confirmed that no one survived the crash.
Loss of Contact and Possible Weather Impact
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft initially established contact with Kolkata Air Traffic Control but later requested a deviation due to adverse weather conditions. Around 7:34 pm, the plane lost both radar and communication contact while approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi.
Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G told ANI that preliminary reports indicate the crash may have been caused by a thunderstorm. Rescue teams faced difficulties reaching the crash site due to the forested terrain.
Crash Site and Rescue Efforts
The aircraft came down near Karmatand in Chatra district. Chatra Superintendent of Police Sumit Kumar Agarwal confirmed authorities received news of the crash around 10 pm and said the wreckage recovery and investigation would take time. Teams are also working to retrieve the black box for detailed analysis.
Patient Being Shifted for Treatment
Hospital officials said the air ambulance was transporting Sanjay Kumar, a 41-year-old patient with severe burn injuries, to Delhi for advanced care. The patient had been admitted at Dev Kamal Hospital in Ranchi on February 16 and left for Delhi around 4:30 pm with his family arranging the medical evacuation.
- Victims Identified
- The deceased have been identified as:
- Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat
- Captain Savrajdeep Singh
- Sanjay Kumar
- Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta
- Sachin Kumar Mishra
- Archana Devi
- Dhuru Kumar
- Investigation Underway
The DGCA and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched a probe into the crash. Jharkhand authorities, including Minister Irfan Ansari, said all necessary resources are being deployed to support the investigation and recovery. Ranchi Airport officials noted that while inclement weather appears to be a contributing factor, the exact cause will be determined after a thorough investigation.
This tragic accident underscores the risks faced by air ambulance operations during adverse weather conditions and has prompted authorities to examine safety protocols closely.
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