Seven killed in air ambulance crash in Jharkhand, India
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- Beechcraft C90 air ambulance crashes near Simaria amid severe storm.
- Victims include a patient, two pilots, medical team, and attendants.
A deadly air ambulance crash in eastern India claimed the lives of all seven people on board late Monday, February 23, 2026. The Beechcraft C90, operated by Redbird Airways Pvt. Ltd., went down in a dense forest near Simaria in Chatra district, roughly 111 kilometers north of Ranchi, the state capital.
Flight details
The aircraft had departed from Ranchi airport carrying a critically injured burn patient, Sanjay Kumar, 41, en route to New Delhi for advanced treatment. Those on board included two pilots, Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat as pilot-in-command and Captain Savrajdeep Singh as co-pilot, a doctor, Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta, a paramedic, Sachin Kumar Mishra, and two attendants, Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar.
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India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the aircraft maintained contact with Kolkata air traffic control but requested a route deviation due to adverse weather. Communication and radar contact were lost approximately 23 minutes after takeoff, about 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi.
Crash amid storm
Officials said the crash occurred during a thunderstorm, with severe weather likely contributing to the accident. Rescue teams reached the remote site in Kasaria Panchayat, confirming all victims dead on arrival. The bodies were transported to a hospital in Chatra for post-mortem examinations.
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Chatra Deputy Commissioner said, "We have pulled out the bodies and sent them for post-mortem and further investigation," underlining the tragic loss amid stormy conditions.
Investigation underway
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a formal probe, reviewing Redbird Airways' maintenance records, safety audits, and operational documents. Authorities have not yet determined the exact cause, though initial reports point to weather-related complications and the sudden loss of contact.
The crash has renewed calls for stronger aviation safety measures, particularly for medical evacuation flights in remote and challenging areas of India.
