Tragic Air Ambulance Accident in Eastern India Claims Seven Lives

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Jharkhand: A medical air ambulance flying from Ranchi to Delhi crashed late on Monday evening in Jharkhand’s Chatra district, killing all seven people on board, authorities confirmed. The aircraft, a Beechcraft C90 operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, disappeared from radar shortly after takeoff and later was found in a remote forested area near Simaria, according to officials.

The flight, which departed from Ranchi Airport at about 7:11 p.m. IST, was carrying a critically ill patient along with medical personnel, attendants and two pilots when radio and radar contact was lost around 7:30 p.m. while it was climbing en route to the national capital.

Local authorities later confirmed that the aircraft crashed in the Bariatu Panchayat area of Simaria, deep inside a forest. The Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G said that recovery teams had reached the site and that all seven victims’ bodies had been found.

Among those killed were the two pilots, a doctor, a paramedic, two attendants and the patient, identified by authorities and media reports. The patient, a 41-year-old man from Jharkhand’s Latehar district, had severe burn injuries and was being transported for advanced medical treatment in Delhi.

Preliminary statements from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) indicate that the aircraft had requested a deviation due to adverse weather conditions before losing contact, leading investigators to consider weather-related turbulence as a potential factor. However, a formal probe led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been launched to determine the precise cause of the crash.

The tragic accident has prompted widespread grief, with families and local communities mourning the sudden loss of life and officials emphasising the importance of a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading up to the crash.

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