LIVEJharkhand plane crash LIVE updates: All 7 passengers dead; what went wrong mid-air? Pilots identified, DGCA issues statement and more updates

All seven killed as Ranchi-Delhi air ambulance crashes in Jharkhand

All seven people on board an air ambulance lost their lives after the aircraft crashed near Simaria in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday evening. The flight had taken off from Ranchi and was headed to Delhi when it went down, officials said. "All seven on board the air ambulance were killed in the crash. The plane was on the way to Delhi from Ranchi," Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G confirmed PTI.

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."

What led to the medical charter plane incident?

According to officials, the Beechcraft King Air C90 aircraft (registration VT-AJV), operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, departed Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi, at 7:11 pm. The aircraft was carrying a critically ill patient along with a medical team and crew and was scheduled to land at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport around 8:30 pm. Airport authorities said the aircraft initially established communication after take-off but lost contact at 7:34 pm while flying near Atali, around 100 nautical miles south-east of Varanasi. Both radio and radar contact were lost soon after the aircraft communicated with Kolkata air traffic control. The plane failed to...Click here to read the full story

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. "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.

Who were the two pilots flying the Ranchi-Delhi doomed aircraft?

Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat and Captain Savrajdeep Singh were flying the aircraft. Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat was one of the two commanders operating the 39-year-old Beechcraft C90. Captain Savrajdeep Singh was...Click here to read the full story

Who owned the Jharkhand air ambulance?

The air ambulance that crashed in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday night was owned and operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, aviation authorities confirmed, as investigations continue into one of the most serious medical flight accidents in recent years. The aircraft involved was a Beechcraft King Air C90, bearing registration number VT-AJV, which was operating a ...Click here to read the full story

Redbird Airways under scanner after Jharkhand air crash

The fatal crash of a Redbird Airways air ambulance in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on February 23 has brought renewed scrutiny on the New Delhi–based aviation operator and its wider network, including its closely linked flight training academy, which has faced repeated regulatory action in recent years. The recent incident has also reignited concerns about Redbird’s safety record, especially in the wake of discoveries related to its sister company, Redbird Flight Training Academy (RFTA). In November 2023, the DGCA suspended flying training operations at Redbird Flight Training Academy due to five...Click here to read the full story

Health minister expresses concern

Reacting to the incident, Jharkhand Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari said the news had deeply shaken him. In a post on X, he stated, "This heartbreaking news has shaken me to the core. Five lives are at stake. I have directed the concerned officials to take immediate necessary action and deploy every possible resource. Our priority is the safe recovery of all passengers." "I pray to God that everyone remains safe and that relief and rescue operations succeed at the earliest. The state government is closely monitoring the situation with utmost seriousness."

Medical team and patient on board

According to the flight manifest, the aircraft was carrying patient Sanjay Kumar, along with doctor Dr Vikash Kumar Gupta, paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra, and two attendants, Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar. The flight was expected to land in Delhi at around 10 pm. The 41-year-old patient on board had sustained 63 per cent burn injuries in a petroleum-related accident and was admitted to the ICU. He was being shifted from Ranchi to Delhi for specialised treatment at a higher medical facility when the aircraft crashed.

Air ambulance crashes in Jharkhand's Chatra

A Delhi-bound air ambulance crashed shortly after take-off from Ranchi on Monday night, claiming the lives of all seven people on board. The Beechcraft C90, registered as VT-AJV and operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, was on a medical evacuation flight to the national capital when it went down in Kasaria Panchayat of Chatra district, Jharkhand. The aircraft had reportedly climbed to 6,000 feet when the pilots contacted Kolkata air traffic control seeking a weather deviation, indicating an attempt to alter course to avoid adverse conditions. Soon after, contact with the aircraft was lost.