New Delhi, February 24: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported that an air ambulance traveling from Ranchi to Delhi crashed in the Kasaria Panchayat of Chatra district, Jharkhand, on February 23. Seven individuals were aboard the aircraft.
A search and rescue team from the district administration is currently on-site, and an investigation team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is being dispatched. The aviation regulator stated that further information will be shared as it becomes available.
According to the DGCA, the Beechcraft C90 aircraft, registered as VT-AJVV and operated by Redbird Airways Private Limited, was conducting a medical evacuation flight when it crashed. The aircraft took off from Ranchi at 7:11 PM. After establishing contact with Kolkata, communication and radar contact were lost at 7:34 PM, approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi.
On board were one patient, one doctor, one paramedic, two attendants, one pilot, and one co-pilot. Rescue operations are ongoing, with no further information released at this time. The aircraft was expected to land in Delhi around 10 PM.
Reports indicate that the plane crashed in a forested area near Karamatand village in the Simaria police station jurisdiction. Local residents reported hearing a loud noise and seeing smoke rising from the forest, prompting the administration to dispatch police and district teams to the scene.
Search efforts are being conducted based on radar data and the aircraft’s last known location. The dense forest and challenging terrain are complicating rescue operations.
Local administration, police forces, and disaster management teams are collaborating on the mission. Sources indicate that the Emergency Data Centralized Action Plan (ED CAP) is monitoring the situation closely, gathering real-time information.
Senior officials from the civil aviation department and security agencies are also keeping a watchful eye on developments. The exact cause of the accident remains unclear, and official details will be released following a thorough investigation.
–
P.S.K.
