The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed the aircraft (VT-AJV) lost communication and radar contact shortly after takeoff. Officials said contact was lost around 7:34 pm before the crash in a forested area near Simaria.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, February 24, 2026: A medical evacuation flight carrying a critically injured patient and six others ended in tragedy Monday evening after an air ambulance crashed in Jharkhand’s Chatra district while en route from Ranchi to Delhi, killing everyone on board.
The Beechcraft C90 aircraft, operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, took off from Ranchi airport at 7:11 pm. It lost contact with air traffic control about 20 minutes later before crashing in the forested Bariatu Panchayat area near Simaria.
Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G confirmed that all seven occupants died in the crash. Sub-divisional police officer Shubham Khandelwal said rescue teams recovered all bodies from the wreckage.
The deceased were identified as:
Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat
Captain Savrajdeep Singh
Sanjay Kumar
Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta
Sachin Kumar Mishra
Archana Devi
Dhuru Kumar
Sanjay Kumar, 41, had suffered severe burn injuries and was being transferred to Delhi for advanced treatment. According to Anant Sinha, CEO of Devkamal Hospital in Ranchi, Kumar had sustained 65% burns and had been admitted on February 16. Doctors advised against transporting him by road due to the high risk to his life.
VIDEO | Jharkhand air ambulance crash: State Health Minister Irfan Ansari (@IrfanAnsariMLA) said,
“This is the biggest plane crash in Jharkhand state. An air ambulance’s job is to save lives, and it is a matter of concern that those who were saving lives themselves lost their… pic.twitter.com/fySRGwnx7t
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 24, 2026
A relative said the family arranged the air ambulance after doctors warned that a road transfer could prove fatal. “We were told he might not survive the journey by road, so we arranged an air ambulance. Later, we learned the plane had crashed,” the family member said.
Aircraft Lost Contact Mid-Flight
Officials said the aircraft lost communication shortly after takeoff. Ranchi airport director Vinod Kumar noted that adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms, were reported in the area at the time of the crash.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft, registered as VT-AJV, lost radar and communication contact with Kolkata air traffic control at around 7:34 pm, approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi.
The flight was operating as a medical evacuation when it crashed in Kasaria Panchayat of Chatra district, the aviation regulator said.
READ: Democrats Push for $175 B Tariff Refund After Court’s Blow to Trump
Investigation Launched
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will conduct a detailed investigation into the crash. Officials said the aircraft’s flight recorder, or black box, is expected to provide key insights into the cause of the accident.
Political leaders expressed grief over the incident. Former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren called the crash deeply tragic, while the All India Trinamool Congress urged authorities to conduct a transparent probe and ensure stronger aviation safety safeguards.
Redbird Airways, established in 2018, operates non-scheduled and medical evacuation flights and maintains a fleet of six aircraft, according to DGCA records.
Authorities said the exact cause of the crash will be determined after the investigation is completed.
