All 7 passengers dead after Ranchi-Delhi air ambulance crashes in Jharkhand’s Chatra| India News
A fatal crash in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday night has raised serious concerns about aviation safety in India. All seven people aboard a Beechcraft C90 air ambulance, operated by Delhi-based Redbird Airways, are feared dead. The aircraft was transporting a burn victim from Ranchi to New Delhi when it lost contact and went down in a forested area near Simaria.
Details of the Crash
The aircraft, with tail number VT-AJV, departed Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi at 7:11 PM. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the plane established contact with Kolkata at 7:34 PM. However, radar contact was lost approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi, and the aircraft subsequently crashed.
Those on board included 41-year-old Sanjay Kumar, a patient with 63% burn injuries, Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta, paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra, two attendants – Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar – and the two pilots, Vivek Vikas Bhagat and Savrajdeep Singh, both captains.
Growing Scrutiny of Aviation Operators
This incident comes amid increased scrutiny of chartered jet operators and the regulatory oversight governing them. A previous crash on January 28th involving a Learjet 45 in Baramati, Maharashtra, which resulted in multiple fatalities, prompted calls for an independent investigation, including a CBI probe.
The DGCA had announced special audits of all non-scheduled operators, but the findings of these audits have not been publicly released. Similarly, the investigation report into the VSR Ventures-operated Learjet crash remains unpublished. This crash marks the third fatal civilian aviation incident in India since June, including a Boeing Dreamliner incident in Ahmedabad, for which the final report is also pending.
Possible Next Steps
Authorities are likely to prioritize locating the wreckage and recovering any potential evidence. A full investigation, led by the DGCA, will likely be launched to determine the cause of the crash. Depending on the findings, regulatory changes or stricter enforcement of existing rules could follow. It’s also possible that further audits of other non-scheduled operators will be conducted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of aircraft was involved in the crash?
The aircraft involved was a Beechcraft C90 operated by Redbird Airways, with the tail number VT-AJV.
Where did the air ambulance take off from?
The air ambulance departed from Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi.
What was the purpose of the flight?
The flight was transporting a 41-year-old burn victim, Sanjay Kumar, from Ranchi to New Delhi for further treatment.
As investigations begin into this latest tragedy, what steps do you believe are most critical to ensuring the safety of air travel in India?