A medical evacuation flight from Ranchi to New Delhi ended in tragedy on Monday night after an air ambulance crashed in a forested area of Jharkhand’s Chatra district, killing all seven people on board. The aircraft was carrying a critically injured burn patient along with doctors, attendants, and two pilots when it went down near Simaria, officials said.
The aircraft, a Beechcraft C90 operated by Redbird Airways, was on a scheduled medical transfer when the incident occurred. Authorities confirmed that there were no survivors.
Jharkhand Air Ambulance Crash: Patient With 65% Burns Was Being Flown for Advanced Treatment
Fresh details revealed that the patient on board had suffered extensive burn injuries and was being shifted to Delhi for specialised medical care. According to hospital officials, the decision to move him was taken after assessing the seriousness of his condition.
Anant Sinha, CEO of Devkamal Hospital in Ranchi, said, “The patient, Sanjay Kumar (41), a resident of Chandwa in Latehar district, was brought to the hospital with 65 per cent burn injuries on February 16. He was being treated in the hospital.”
Explaining the decision to shift him, he added, “They arranged an air ambulance on Monday. The patient left the hospital for Delhi around 4.30 pm.”
Timeline of the Air Ambulance Crash: Takeoff, Weather Deviation, and Loss of Contact
The air ambulance took off from Ranchi at around 7:11 pm. Shortly after departure, the crew established contact with Kolkata air traffic control. As per the aviation regulator, the pilots requested a route deviation due to weather conditions at around 7:34 pm.
Soon after that communication, the aircraft lost radar and radio contact. Within a short time, local authorities received information that the plane had crashed in a dense forest area of Chatra district, making access difficult for rescue teams.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, DGCA, confirmed that the flight was a non-scheduled medical evacuation and said a detailed investigation had begun.
Crash Site in Chatra: Rescue Teams Recover All Bodies
Local officials confirmed that the wreckage was located in the Bariatu Panchayat area of Simaria in Chatra district. Rescue teams from the district administration, police, and forest department reached the site after navigating rough terrain.
Authorities recovered the bodies of all seven occupants from the crash site. Officials said challenging geography and darkness delayed initial access, but recovery operations continued through the night.
Jharkhand Air Ambulance Crash: Full List of Victims Identified
Officials identified the deceased as:
- Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat
- Captain Savrajdeep Singh
- Sanjay Kumar (patient)
- Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta
- Sachin Kumar Mishra (paramedic)
- Archana Devi (attendant)
- Dhuru Kumar (attendant)
Families of the victims have been informed, and local administrations are coordinating further procedures.
Jharkhand Air Ambulance Crash: Weather Angle Being Examined
An Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau team has been sent to the crash site to determine the exact cause of the accident. Officials indicated that adverse weather conditions could have played a role, but stressed that conclusions would only be drawn after a technical probe.
The crash has once again raised concerns over the safety of non-scheduled and medical evacuation flights, especially those operating in difficult weather and terrain. Aviation authorities are expected to review procedures once the investigation report is completed.
For now, the focus remains on completing the probe and supporting the families affected by one of Jharkhand’s deadliest civilian aviation tragedies in recent times.
