Seven Dead As Ranchi–Delhi Air Ambulance Crashes In Jharkhand; Probe Underway
Seven Dead As Ranchi–Delhi Air Ambulance Crashes In Jharkhand; Probe Underway
Chatra, February 24, 2026: All seven people on board a medical evacuation flight were killed after an air ambulance crashed in a forested area of Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday evening, officials confirmed.
The Beechcraft C90 aircraft, operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, had departed from Ranchi at 7:11 pm for Delhi. Authorities said contact with air traffic control was lost around 7:34 pm after the crew sought a route deviation due to adverse weather. The aircraft went down in Kasariya Panchayat under Simaria block, in a remote and densely wooded region.
Superintendent of Police Sumit Kumar Agarwal said local authorities were alerted later in the evening and faced significant challenges reaching the crash site because of the rugged terrain. He confirmed that all seven occupants had died and that investigators from Delhi would examine the wreckage, including efforts to recover the black box.
Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G indicated that stormy weather may have contributed to the accident. A medical team that reached the site declared all those on board dead.
Victims Identified
According to the passenger manifest, the deceased include pilots Capt Vivek Vikas Bhagat and Capt Savrajdeep Singh; patient Sanjay Kumar; attendants Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar; Dr Vikash Kumar Gupta; and paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra.
Difficult Rescue Operation
Rescue teams from local administration and security forces trekked nearly two kilometres through dense forest without road access to reach the crash site. Officials said the operation was particularly difficult due to darkness and thick undergrowth. With limited equipment available, personnel carried the bodies manually through challenging terrain to the nearest accessible road.
Aviation Authorities Launch Investigation
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the aircraft had requested a weather-related diversion after establishing contact with Kolkata air traffic control. Radar and communication links were subsequently lost when the plane was approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is dispatching a team to conduct a detailed probe. Investigators are expected to examine meteorological conditions, technical systems, and flight data to determine the cause of the crash.
District authorities have secured the site as the investigation continues.
