Air Ambulance Crash in Jharkhand's Chatra District Claims Seven Lives
An air ambulance crashed in Jharkhand's Chatra district on Monday, February 23, 2026, killing all seven people on board. The aircraft was en route from Ranchi to Delhi.
Details of the Incident
The Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd Beechcraft C90 (VT-AJV) took off from Ranchi Airport at 7:11 PM Indian Standard Time (IST). Shortly after takeoff, at 7:34 PM IST, the crew contacted Kolkata air traffic control requesting a route deviation due to inclement weather. Communication and radar contact were lost approximately 20 minutes into the flight, about 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi. The aircraft then crashed near Charki Tongri under Kasari Panchayat in the Simaria block of Chatra district.
Victims
The seven fatalities have been identified as:
- Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat
- Captain Savrajdeep Singh
- Sanjay Kumar (patient)
- Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta
- Sachin Kumar Mishra (paramedic)
- Archana Devi (attendant)
- Dhuru Kumar (attendant)
Sanjay Kumar, a 41-year-old resident of Chandwa in Latehar district, was being transferred to Delhi for further treatment of burn injuries he sustained on February 16. He had suffered 65% burn injuries.
Investigation
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched investigations into the crash. While inclement weather is suspected to be a factor, the exact cause is yet to be determined. The bodies of the deceased have been taken to Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Conclusion
A medical evacuation flight crashed in Chatra district, Jharkhand, on February 23, 2026, resulting in the death of all seven individuals on board. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.
