A tragic incident in India has claimed the lives of all seven individuals aboard an air ambulance that crashed shortly after takeoff. Reports confirm that the aircraft went down on February 23, with local officials citing that no survivors were found among the passengers and crew.
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The aircraft, identified as a Beechcraft C90 owned by Redbird Airways, took off from Ranchi at approximately 7:11 p.m. local time and was en route to Delhi. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the plane lost communication with air traffic control around 7:34 p.m. before it ultimately crashed in the Chatra district of Jharkhand, near the village of Simaria.
Witnesses say the aircraft went missing about twenty minutes into its flight, with contact lost when the plane was around 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi. The search and rescue teams, alongside local authorities, quickly mobilised to the crash site located deep within a forested area in the Bariatu Panchayat, to recover the remains of those tragically lost.
Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G confirmed to the Press Trust of India that all seven individuals on the flight perished. She also noted that the air ambulance was in the process of transporting medical personnel and a patient when the accident occurred. The victims include the pilot, Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat, and the co-pilot, Captain Savrajdeep Singh. The other individuals onboard have been identified as Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta, patient Sanjay Kumar, and medical attendants Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar, alongside paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra.
The DGCA released a statement via social media, highlighting the sequence of events and confirming the commencement of an investigation into the cause of the crash. A team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been dispatched to the scene to begin gathering evidence and determining what led to this tragic event.
As rescue operations continue, local authorities are focusing on retrieving the wreckage and supporting the families of the victims in any way possible. This devastating incident has introduced a cloud of sorrow over the community and the aviation sector, particularly as air ambu lances play a crucial role in providing timely medical assistance.
The investigation by the AAIB is expected to gather considerable interest as air travel safety remains a paramount concern. The DGCA will be working closely with the AAIB to ensure a thorough investigation takes place, with updates provided as more information becomes available.
The aviation community, alongside families and friends of those lost, will be awaiting answers in the coming weeks to understand the circumstances leading to this catastrophe.