How 7 died in Jharkhand air ambulance crash: Key details

A Redbird Airways Beechcraft C90 air ambulance crashed in Jharkhand’s Chatra district, killing all seven people on board. The aircraft went down in the dense forests of Kasariya Panchayat in Simariya block on Monday evening.

All seven occupants died in the crash. The victims included two crew members, one patient and the patient’s family members. Officials said doctors confirmed all were dead at the site after rescue teams reached the remote location.

The crash claimed the lives of a patient and family members travelling for urgent treatment, along with two crew members. What was meant to be a life-saving journey to Delhi ended in disaster, leaving loved ones shattered and communities grieving.

The aircraft, registration VT-AJV, was operating a medical evacuation flight from Ranchi to Delhi. It took off at 19:11 IST before losing contact mid-air during the journey.

After being handed over from Ranchi to the next ATC station, the aircraft disappeared from radar. Officials said it did not re-establish contact, triggering emergency protocols and search operations.

Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G said prima facie the crash appears to have been caused by a thunderstorm. However, the exact reason will be confirmed after a detailed aviation investigation.

According to DGCA, the pilot requested deviation due to bad weather after establishing contact with Kolkata ATC. At 19:34 IST, communication and radar contact were lost about 100 nautical miles south-east of Varanasi.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has initiated an investigation into the crash. A team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is being dispatched to recover the black box and analyse flight data to determine the exact cause.

SP Sumit Kumar Agarwal said authorities received information around 10 pm. Rescue operations were challenging due to rough terrain and forested surroundings. District teams reached the site and secured the area.