Seven people, including two pilots, a doctor and a critically ill patient, were killed after an air ambulance flying from Ranchi to Delhi crashed in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday evening.
The aircraft, operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, went down near Bariatu Panchayat in the Simaria area, a densely forested region. Officials confirmed that there were no survivors.
Crash shortly after takeoff
According to Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G, the aircraft took off from Ranchi airport at 7:11 pm and was headed to Delhi. It reportedly went missing around 7:30 pm before crashing in the forested belt of Simaria.
“All seven on board the air ambulance were killed in the crash. The plane was on the way to Delhi from Ranchi,” the Deputy Commissioner told PTI.
Sub-divisional police officer Shubham Khandelwal said all seven bodies had been recovered from the crash site.
The victims were identified as Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat, Captain Savrajdeep Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta, Sachin Kumar Mishra, Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar.
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Patient being shifted for advanced care
The air ambulance had been arranged for Sanjay Kumar, 41, a resident of Latehar district, who had suffered 65 per cent burn injuries. He had been admitted to Devkamal Hospital in Ranchi on February 16.
Anant Sinha, CEO of the hospital, said the patient’s condition required urgent transfer to a higher medical facility in Delhi.
A family member said doctors had advised against a road journey due to the severity of his injuries. “We tried to take him (the patient) by road, but the doctor said we couldn't. He told us the patient might collapse on the way", Vijay Kumar, a relative, told the reporters. "The doctor said that if we could arrange an air ambulance, then we could take him. So we decided to take him by air ambulance." "Later, we saw on the news that the plane had crashed."
Weather under scanner
Residents reported heavy rain, strong winds, lightning and thunder in the area at the time of the crash. Ranchi airport director Vinod Kumar said the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control around 20 minutes after takeoff.
“Inclement weather could be a reason behind the crash, but the actual cause will be ascertained only after a probe,” he told PTI.
A detailed investigation is expected to determine what led to the fatal accident that claimed seven lives in a single evening.
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DGCA outlines sequence of events
In an official press note, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd Beechcraft C90 aircraft VT-AJV was operating a medical evacuation flight on the Ranchi–Delhi sector on February 23, 2026.
According to the regulator, the aircraft became airborne from Ranchi at 19:11 IST. After contacting Kolkata ATC, the crew requested a weather-related deviation. At approximately 19:34 IST, the aircraft lost both communication and radar contact with Kolkata ATC.
Press Note on Crash of Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd Beechcraft C90 aircraft VT-AJV@MoCA_GoI pic.twitter.com/gmrbij1hjN
— DGCA (@DGCAIndia) February 23, 2026
"On 23.02.2026 Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd Beechcraft C90 aircraft VT-AJV operating medical evacuation (Air Ambulance) flight on sector "Ranchi-Delhi" crashed in Kasaria Panchayat of Chatra district, in Jharkhand. There were seven persons on board including two crew members. The aircraft was airborne from Ranchi at 19:11 IST. After establishing contact with Kolkata, aircraft requested for deviation due to weather, at 19:34 IST aircraft lost communication and RADAR contact with Kolkata at approximately 100 NM South-East of Varanasi, DGCA stated.
"The District Administration search and rescue team is at the location and the AAIB team is being dispatched for investigation. Further information will be shared," the DGCA added.
