Ranchi, February 24: A tragic incident occurred in Jharkhand when an air ambulance operated by Red Bird Aviation crashed in Chatra district while en route from Ranchi to Delhi. Local sources report that all seven individuals on board lost their lives in the accident. The air ambulance was transporting 41-year-old Sanjay Kumar, who had suffered severe burns in a fire incident and was receiving treatment at Devkamal Hospital.
The passengers included pilot Vivek Vikas Bhagat, co-pilot Sabrajdeep Singh, family members Archana Devi and Dhruv Kumar, doctor Vikas Kumar Gupta, and nurse Sachin Kumar Mishra.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the air ambulance took off from Ranchi at 7:11 PM. Contact with air traffic control (ATC) was lost at 7:34 PM, prompting aviation authorities to issue an immediate high alert.
Reports indicate that the aircraft crashed in a forested area near Karmatand village, under the Simaria police station jurisdiction. Local residents reported hearing a loud noise and seeing smoke rising from the forest, which led to the dispatch of police and district administration teams to the scene.
Following the loss of contact, relevant agencies launched a large-scale search and rescue operation. The search is being conducted based on radar data and the aircraft’s last known location.
Local administration, police forces, and disaster management teams are working together on the operation. Sources indicate that the Emergency Data Centralized Action Plan (EDCAP) is monitoring the entire situation.
The cause of the accident remains unclear at this time. Official information regarding the reasons for the crash will be available only after a detailed investigation. The SP of Chatra has confirmed the incident.
The DGCA released a statement confirming that the Beechcraft C90 aircraft operated by Red Bird Airways Private Limited was functioning as an air ambulance on the Ranchi-Delhi route. The aircraft crashed in the Kasaria Panchayat of Chatra district, carrying seven people, including two crew members.
The aircraft took off from Ranchi at 7:11 PM Indian time. After establishing contact with Kolkata, the aircraft requested a route change due to bad weather. Communication and radar contact were lost approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Kolkata at 7:34 PM Indian time.
The district administration’s search and rescue team is on-site, and an AAIB team is being dispatched for investigation.
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