Seven Dead as Air Ambulance Crashes in Jharkhand’s Chatra Shortly After Takeoff from Ranchi
Chatra/Ranchi: All seven people aboard a medical evacuation aircraft lost their lives on Monday evening after the plane crashed in Jharkhand’s Chatra district, moments after departing from Ranchi en route to Delhi.
The aircraft, operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, had taken off from Ranchi Airport at 7:11 pm (IST).
According to aviation authorities, the plane initially established contact with Kolkata Air Traffic Control at 7:34 pm.
However, it subsequently lost both radio communication and radar contact approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi.
The wreckage was later located near Charki Tongri under Kasari Panchayat in Simaria block of Chatra district.
Who was on the Board
The victims included:
- Capt Vivek Vikas Bhagat
- Capt Savrajdeep Singh
- Patient Sanjay Kumar
- Attendants Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar
- Dr Vikash Kumar Gupta
- Paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra
All seven perished in the crash.
Possible Weather Factor, Investigation Ordered
The Director of Ranchi Airport indicated that adverse weather conditions might have contributed to the accident, though he clarified that the definitive cause will only be determined following a detailed investigation.
Search and rescue teams from the district administration promptly reached the crash site.
Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that a team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is being dispatched to conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident.
Patient Being Shifted for Advanced Treatment
The patient, 41-year-old Sanjay Kumar from Chandwa in Latehar district, had been admitted to the hospital on February 16 with approximately 65 per cent burn injuries.
He was undergoing treatment locally, but his family decided to transfer him to Delhi for specialized medical care.
Arrangements were made for an air ambulance, and Kumar left the hospital around 4:30 pm on Monday for the flight to the national capital.
About the Operator
According to information available on its official website, Redbird Airways is a Delhi-based charter and air ambulance service provider.
The company received its Air Operator Permit in August 2019. It was established by aircraft engineer Akshay Kumar, who serves as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
The operator maintains a fleet comprising small fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters used for chartered and emergency medical services.
Authorities are continuing recovery operations while aviation investigators work to determine the sequence of events that led to the tragic crash.
