Tragic Air Ambulance Crash in Jharkhand Claims Seven Lives

On Monday, a tragic air ambulance accident occurred in the Chatra district of Jharkhand, resulting in the deaths of all seven individuals on board, including two crew members. The Beechcraft C90 aircraft, operated by Redbird Airways Private Limited, was conducting a medical evacuation flight from Ranchi to Delhi when it crashed around 7:30 PM in the Kasaria Panchayat of the Simaria block. Speaking to the media, Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta, the father of one of the deceased, expressed his sorrow, stating, 'My elder son was posted at Sadar Hospital in Ranchi. If proper healthcare facilities were available here, why would they need to go to Delhi for treatment?'

Confirming the fatalities, SP Sumit Kumar Agrawal mentioned that they received information about the accident around 10 PM. He noted the difficulty in reaching the site due to the area's conditions. Agrawal added, 'A team from Delhi will arrive here to conduct an investigation and attempt to retrieve the black box. A total of seven individuals lost their lives.' Deputy Commissioner Keertishree G. indicated that adverse weather likely contributed to the crash, stating, 'It appears the crash was caused by a storm. Unfortunately, the medical team found them deceased. The victims included two crew members, a patient, and five family members.'

He further elaborated that while the initial assessment suggests that poor weather conditions led to the accident, the exact cause will be determined following a thorough investigation by aviation authorities. Officials reported that the aircraft took off from Ranchi at 19:11 IST and lost communication and radar contact approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi. A team from Delhi is expected to arrive at the crash site today to conduct an investigation and recover the black box.