Chatra, India: An air ambulance flying from Ranchi to Delhi crashed in the forested terrain of Simaria in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on the evening of February 23, killing all seven people on board, officials confirmed.
The aircraft, a Beechcraft C90 (VT‑AJV) operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd on a medical evacuation mission, departed Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi at 7:11 pm IST, bound for Delhi.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft established contact with Kolkata Air Traffic Control (ATC) at around 7:34 pm, about 20–23 minutes after take‑off. Shortly after that, it lost both communication and radar contact. After losing contact with Kolkata, VT-AJV did not come in contact with either Varanasi air traffic control (ATC) or the Lucknow ATC.
A Varanasi radar replay was carried out, following which the last radar contact was recorded at 7:22pm, it was approximately 100 nautical miles south‑east of Varanasi before the aircraft went off radar.
Local administration and police launched search and rescue operations once the aircraft was reported missing. The wreckage was located in the Kasaria/Bariatu Panchayat area of Simaria, deep within a densely forested region of Chatra district.
The site posed significant challenges due to rough terrain, slowing initial access by rescue teams, officials said.
Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G told news agency PTI that all seven occupants were killed in the crash.
Sub‑Divisional Police Officer Shubham Khandelwal confirmed to PTI that all seven bodies have been recovered from the site.
Ranchi Airport Director Vinod Kumar, speaking to PTI, said the aircraft lost ATC contact roughly 20 minutes after take‑off and that inclement weather was being investigated as a possible factor.
Sources and official statements confirmed the identities of the victims:
- Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat – Pilot‑in‑Command
- Captain Savrajdeep Singh – Co‑Pilot
- Sanjay Kumar (41) – Patient; resident of Chandwa, Latehar district; burn injuries (65 %)
- Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta – Medical doctor
- Sachin Kumar Mishra – Paramedic
- Archana Devi – Attendant
- Dhuru Kumar – Attendant
The air ambulance was transporting Sanjay Kumar for advanced treatment in Delhi, having been treated at Devkamal Hospital in Ranchi after sustaining severe burn injuries.
Initial reports from officials and residents in the crash region described stormy weather, strong winds and rainfall at the time of the incident. Authorities suggest that adverse weather conditions may have contributed to the loss of contact and eventual crash, but stressed that the exact cause will only be determined after a formal investigation.
The DGCA has stated that an Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) team has been dispatched to the site to begin a detailed probe into the circumstances leading to the accident. The investigation will include analysis of flight data, radar logs and weather conditions at the time of the crash.
Redbird Airways was founded by Akshay Kumar in 2018 and received its air operator permit to serve non-scheduled flights (charters and air ambulances) in August 2019.
The company provides air ambulance services round the clock for medical evacuation, according to its website. It said the aircraft comes with advanced life-saving equipment, including doctors, attendants, etc.
As per information available on the official website of Redbird Airways, the operator maintains a fleet of seven aircraft, including the King Air C90 that was involved in the crash in Chatra on Monday night. The company’s fleet comprises the Embraer Legacy 600, Dassault Falcon 2000, Hawker 850XP, Beechcraft Premier 1, Cessna Citation III-650, Cessna Citation XL560, and the King Air C90.
Political leaders and public figures have expressed condolences. Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren took to social media to extend sympathy to the families of the deceased and prayed for strength in the aftermath of the tragedy.
