The Jharkhand plane crash claimed seven lives, including a doctor, after a chartered air ambulance went down in Chatra district on Monday night. The aircraft had taken off from Ranchi and was heading to Delhi when it lost contact shortly after departure. According to officials, the small plane crashed in a forested area of Jharkhand’s Simaria region, leaving no survivors.
Aircraft Lost Contact After Takeoff
The air ambulance departed from Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi but soon lost communication and radar contact with Kolkata air traffic control. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed the loss of contact in an official statement. The aircraft was identified as a Beechcraft C90 air ambulance, which disappeared from radar roughly 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi.
Doctor’s Death Leaves Family Devastated
Among those killed was Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta, who was accompanying a patient during the medical evacuation. His father, speaking to PTI, broke down while recalling his son’s journey.
He said his son had informed him about travelling to Delhi with a patient. Later, the family received news of the crash. The grieving father shared that he had sold farmland to support his son’s medical education.
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Hospital Confirms Patient’s Condition
The patient onboard, Sanjay Kumar (41), had been receiving treatment at Devkamal Hospital and Research Centre in Ranchi. Hospital CEO Dr Anant Sinha told ANI that the patient had suffered nearly 60% burn injuries. He added that the patient was in the ICU and relatives had arranged for an air ambulance after exploring advanced treatment options.
List of Victims Identified
Officials identified the victims as Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat, Captain Savrajdeep Singh, Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta, patient Sanjay Kumar, Sachin Kumar Mishra, Archana Devi, and Dhuru Kumar. All seven people onboard lost their lives in the crash.
Weather May Have Played a Role
While authorities have not confirmed the exact cause of the accident, preliminary inputs suggest that bad weather and thunderstorms in the region may have contributed to the crash. A detailed investigation is currently underway.
Aircraft Operated by Delhi-Based Firm
The air ambulance was operated by Redbird Airways and carried the registration number VT-AJV. The aircraft crashed in a forested area of Chatra district, making rescue operations difficult.
