A tragic air ambulance crash in Jharkhand’s Chatra district claimed seven lives on Monday evening, shattering hopes for a critically injured patient’s recovery. The Red Bird Aviation aircraft, en route from Ranchi to Delhi, plummeted into a forested area, marking a devastating blow to medical evacuation efforts in the region.
The flight carried 41-year-old Sanjay Kumar, who had suffered severe burns in a fire incident and was being rushed from Ranchi’s Devkamal Hospital to a specialized facility in the capital. Accompanying him were pilot Vivek Vikas Bhagat, co-pilot Subrajdeep Singh, family members Archana Devi and Dhruv Kumar, doctor Vikas Kumar Gupta, and nurse Sachin Kumar Mishra.
Departing Ranchi at 7:11 PM, the Beechcraft C90 lost contact with Kolkata ATC just 23 minutes later at 7:34 PM, approximately 100 nautical miles southeast. The crew had requested a route change due to adverse weather, but communication abruptly ended, triggering an immediate high alert from aviation authorities.
Local residents in Karamatand village under Simaria police station reported a loud crash and rising smoke from the jungle, prompting a swift response from police and district administration teams. Search and rescue operations mobilized rapidly, involving local forces, disaster management units, and radar data analysis to pinpoint the wreckage site in Kasariya panchayat.
As recovery efforts confirmed the loss of all aboard, questions swirl around the cause—possibly weather-related or mechanical failure. The DGCA has dispatched an AAIB investigation team, while the Emergency Data Centralized Action Plan oversees the response. Chatra’s Superintendent of Police verified the incident, underscoring the gravity of this rare air ambulance mishap.
This disaster highlights vulnerabilities in regional air medical transport, where timely evacuations can mean life or death. Families mourn as authorities probe deeper, promising answers amid profound grief.