A medical charter flight crashed on Monday near Ranchi in Jharkhand, drawing the attention of authorities and emergency services as rescue operations continue. The Beechcraft King Air medical aircraft was carrying seven people at the time of the incident and went down in a rural area, therefore prompting an urgent response from local police, fire teams and medical crews. Initial reports indicate that the crash was sudden, taking place as the plane was en route, leaving officials racing against time to locate survivors and clarify the causes behind the tragedy.
According to Latestly, the Beechcraft King Air B90L, a light twin-engine aircraft often used for medical evacuation and charter services, has crashed at Kasiyatu forest in Simaria in the vicinity of Ranchi. The flight was reportedly carrying 1 patient, 1 paramedic, 2 attendants, a pilot, and a co-pilot.
Local police and emergency teams were alerted to the crash site shortly after the incident and have been combing the area to locate wreckage and survivors. Videos and images from the scene have surfaced on social media, showing debris scattered in a field and rescue workers rushing through difficult terrain in search of those onboard.
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Features of Beechcraft King Air B90L
The Beechcraft King Air B90 is a compact twin-engine turboprop aircraft known for its reliability, efficiency, and executive comfort. It typically accommodates up to 6–8 passengers in a pressurised cabin, along with 1–2 pilots, making it ideal for corporate travel, air ambulance roles, and short regional hops. Powered by twin Pratt & Whitney PT6A engines, the B90 offers a cruising speed of around 270 knots (approximately 500 km/h) and a maximum range of about 1,260 nautical miles, depending on load and conditions. The aircraft features a stand-up cabin for many passengers, club-style seating, fold-out tables, and generous baggage space for its class. With a maximum takeoff weight of roughly 10,100 pounds, it can operate efficiently from shorter runways, giving it access to smaller airports. Its strong performance, dependable systems, and flexible cabin configuration make the King Air B90 a popular choice in the light business turboprop segment.
Seven onboard, rescue underway
Officials from Jharkhand’s disaster response and civil aviation units have confirmed that seven people were onboard the charter aircraft. The flight was reportedly carrying 1 patient, 1 paramedic, 2 attendants, a pilot, and a co-pilot.
Rescue teams, including police, fire services, medical staff and volunteers, have reached the scene, with aerial support being coordinated to aid in the search. The focus remains on locating any survivors, securing the wreckage and determining whether any hazardous materials present additional risks to the rescue personnel.
Local hospitals have been put on alert to receive casualties, and ambulances are standing by should any survivors be transported for urgent treatment.
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Authorities respond; investigation begins
Civil aviation officials, along with Jharkhand state police, have cordoned off the site of the crash and initiated preliminary enquiries into the cause of the incident. Early phases of the investigation include examining the aircraft’s maintenance records, pilot communication logs and weather conditions at the time of the accident. The preliminary report on the Learjet 45 plane crash in Baramati, in which NCP leader Ajit Pawar and four others died, is awaited on 28th February.
Eyewitnesses near the crash site reported hearing a loud explosion or engine noise just before impact, though these accounts have not yet been verified by officials. Investigators are also expected to reach out to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and aircraft operators to gather data from flight recorders and other technical systems.
