Air Ambulance Carrying Seven Crashes in Jharkhand, India
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed today, February 23, that an air ambulance with seven individuals on board crashed in Chatra district, Jharkhand, shortly after takeoff. The incident has sparked immediate search and rescue efforts, with fears that all occupants may have perished.
Flight Details and Manifest
The aircraft, a Beechcraft C90 operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, took off from Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, at 7:11 PM local time. According to the flight manifest, the passengers included two pilots, a 41-year-old male patient with severe burn injuries, two attendants, a doctor, and a paramedic. The patient was being transported to Delhi for advanced medical care after sustaining 63 percent burns in an accident and receiving treatment in an intensive care unit.
Loss of Communication and Radar Contact
The DGCA reported that the aircraft lost radar contact approximately 23 minutes after departure. In an official statement, the regulator noted, "After establishing contact with Kolkata, at 19:34 IST aircraft lost communication and radar contact with Kolkata at approximately 100 NM south-east of Varanasi." The tail number of the Beechcraft C90 was identified as VT-AJV.
Search, Rescue, and Investigation Efforts
Local district administration teams have been deployed to the crash site for search and rescue operations. Additionally, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is dispatching a team to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash. The DGCA has assured that further information will be shared as the situation develops.
Occupants Feared Dead
Preliminary reports from sources such as News9Live indicate that all seven occupants of the air ambulance are feared dead, although official confirmation is pending from authorities. This tragic event highlights the risks associated with medical evacuation flights and has raised concerns about aviation safety in the region.
The crash underscores the critical nature of air ambulance services, especially for patients requiring urgent, specialized care, and calls for enhanced scrutiny of operational protocols in such high-stakes scenarios.
