An 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 medical evacuation flight from Ranchi to Delhi. The crash occurred shortly after take-off from Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi, with seven people on board, including two pilots, a critically ill patient, a doctor, a paramedic and two attendants.
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According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft took off at 7.11 pm IST and remained in contact with air traffic control briefly before communication and radar contact were lost at around 7.34 pm, approximately 100 nautical miles south-east of Varanasi.
Medical evacuation flight lost contact mid-air
DGCA officials said the aircraft was conducting a scheduled medical evacuation when it vanished from radar. The air ambulance had initially established contact with Kolkata Area Control after departure from Ranchi. However, it failed to re-establish communication with subsequent control stations, prompting emergency protocols.
“The district administration search and rescue team is at the crash location, and an Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) team is being dispatched for a detailed probe,” the DGCA said in an official statement.
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
Airport Director Vinod Kumar earlier told news agency PTI that the crash report was received from the state administration after the aircraft failed to maintain contact with air traffic control.
Local authorities later confirmed that the wreckage was located in a densely forested area under the Simaria police station limits in Chatra district, complicating rescue and recovery efforts.
Operator details under scrutiny
Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd operates chartered aircraft and medical evacuation services across parts of India. Aviation officials said the investigation will examine flight data, maintenance records, crew logs, weather conditions and communication transcripts to determine what led to the crash.
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While officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause, adverse weather and possible technical malfunction are among the factors being considered, according to preliminary assessments shared with authorities.
This incident has renewed attention on the safety oversight of air ambulance operations, particularly those flying long distances under emergency conditions.
Further details are expected once the AAIB completes its initial site inspection and technical analysis.
