Air Ambulance Crash – Seven Killed After Aircraft Goes Down in Jharkhand

Air Ambulance Crash –  All seven occupants of a medical charter aircraft lost their lives after the plane crashed in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday evening, officials confirmed a day later.

Flight From Ranchi to Delhi Ends in Tragedy

The aircraft, operated by Redbird Airways, had departed from Ranchi and was bound for Delhi when it went down in the Kasaria Panchayat area of Chatra. Authorities said the Beechcraft King Air (BE9L) was functioning as an air ambulance at the time of the accident.

There were seven people on board, including two members of the flight crew. Local officials who reached the crash site reported that no survivors were found.

Victims Identified by Authorities

The deceased have been identified as Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat, Captain Savrajdeep Singh, Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta, Sachin Kumar Mishra, Sanjay Kumar, Archana Devi, and Dhuru Kumar. Officials stated that formal identification procedures were carried out following the recovery of the bodies.

Superintendent of Sadar Hospital, Pankaj Kumar, said medical teams rushed to the location after receiving information about the crash. Upon arrival, they confirmed that all passengers and crew members had succumbed to their injuries. Administrative procedures are ongoing as part of the post-incident protocol.

Patient Being Transported for Advanced Treatment

Family members revealed that Sanjay Kumar, one of the deceased, had suffered critical burn injuries and was being transported to Delhi for specialized medical care. A resident of Chandwa in Latehar district, he had reportedly sustained nearly 65 percent burns in a fire accident.

According to his relatives, doctors in Latehar advised transferring him to a higher medical facility. An air ambulance was arranged from Ranchi after his condition deteriorated. Sanjay’s wife and a cousin accompanied him on the flight. Both were among those who died in the crash.

His elder brother said the decision to shift him was taken urgently as his health worsened. Family members described the development as devastating and said they were struggling to process the sudden loss.

Young Doctor Among Those on Board

Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta was also traveling on the aircraft. Relatives said he had completed his medical studies and was actively involved in assisting his family. His uncle expressed profound grief, recalling that the young doctor had recently spoken about taking time to rest from his responsibilities.

The loss has left the family in shock, and they have appealed for support from authorities as they cope with the tragedy.

Eyewitnesses Recall Explosion-Like Sound

Residents of nearby villages described hearing a loud noise moments before the aircraft went down. Several locals said the sound resembled an explosion, prompting them to step outside their homes.

One villager said that after hearing the blast, people moved toward a forested area where they later discovered wreckage of the aircraft. Authorities were immediately informed, and emergency services arrived shortly afterward.

Another eyewitness reported that although the initial sound was alarming, there was no visible sign of the crash from the village. It was only after residents searched the area that they found debris scattered across the site.

Communication Lost Mid-Flight

Flight data indicates the aircraft took off from Ranchi at approximately 7:07 p.m. and became airborne a few minutes later. After establishing contact with Kolkata Air Traffic Control, communication was reportedly lost around 7:34 p.m.

Radar contact ceased roughly 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi, near the Palamu region in northwestern Jharkhand. The aircraft had been expected to land in Delhi around 10 p.m., according to scheduled flight details.

Investigation Initiated

Authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Aviation and local administrative teams are examining technical, operational, and environmental factors that may have contributed to the incident.

Officials said further information will be released once preliminary findings are available. Meanwhile, families of the victims are awaiting answers as they mourn the loss of their loved ones.