Jharkhand Air Ambulance Crash Kills 7; Family Took ₹8 Lakh Loan
An air ambulance carrying a critically ill burn patient from Ranchi to Delhi crashed in Jharkhand's Chatra district, killing all seven people aboard. The tragedy involved a patient's family taking a substantial loan for the flight, and a doctor whose father sold land for his education. An investigation is underway.
Key Highlights
- Seven people, including patient and medical staff, died in the air ambulance crash.
- The Beechcraft C90 aircraft crashed in Chatra district, Jharkhand.
- Patient's family borrowed ₹8 lakh for emergency medical flight.
- Doctor Vikas Kumar Gupta's father sold farmland for his education.
- Inclement weather is a suspected cause; DGCA and AAIB are investigating.
- The flight was en route from Ranchi to Delhi when it lost contact.
A devastating air ambulance crash occurred on Monday, February 23, 2026, in Jharkhand's Chatra district, claiming the lives of all seven individuals on board. The Beechcraft C90 aircraft, registered as VT-AJV and operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, was on a critical medical evacuation flight from Ranchi to Delhi when it went down shortly after takeoff. The crash site was identified deep within a forested area in Bariatu Panchayat, Simaria, Chatra district.
The ill-fated flight departed from Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi at 7:11 PM IST. Around 7:34 PM IST, after establishing contact with Kolkata Air Traffic Control, the aircraft requested a deviation from its flight path due to adverse weather conditions before losing communication and radar contact approximately 100 nautical miles south-east of Varanasi. Preliminary findings and statements from officials suggest that inclement weather and a severe thunderstorm are likely factors contributing to the tragic accident.
The seven deceased have been identified as: Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat and Captain Savrajdeep Singh (the pilots); Sanjay Kumar (the 41-year-old patient who had suffered 65% burn injuries); Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta (the accompanying doctor); Sachin Kumar Mishra (a paramedic); and Archana Devi (Sanjay Kumar's wife) along with Dhuru Kumar (a relative/nephew acting as attendant).
The human cost of this tragedy is particularly poignant. Sanjay Kumar, a hotel operator from Chandwa in Latehar district, had sustained severe burn injuries in a fire at his establishment a week prior to the crash. In a desperate bid to secure advanced medical treatment, his family had arranged the costly air ambulance, taking a loan of approximately ₹8 lakh from friends and relatives to cover the expenses. His family's immense sacrifice, undertaken to save his life, ended in the loss of three family members aboard the flight.
Further highlighting the tragic sacrifices, Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta, a respected doctor who previously served at Ranchi Sadar Hospital and was recognized for his services during the COVID-19 pandemic, was also among the victims. His grieving father recounted the immense personal sacrifice he made, stating that he sold his farmland to fund his son's medical education. The loss has sent shockwaves through his native village in Aurangabad, Bihar.
The incident has prompted a thorough investigation by two teams from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to ascertain the exact cause of the crash. Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari stated that the state government would also conduct an inquiry into the authorization given for the flight amidst inclement weather conditions. The crash has brought to the forefront concerns regarding aviation safety, particularly for non-scheduled operators, and the critical need for robust health infrastructure in states like Jharkhand, where families are compelled to seek expensive air medical transfers due to a lack of adequate local facilities.
This incident is the second fatal crash involving a non-scheduled operator in India within a month, raising broader questions about regulatory oversight in the country's aviation sector. The bodies of the victims were recovered from the dense forest and subsequently sent for post-mortem examinations before being handed over to their respective families for last rites, leaving their communities in profound mourning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Jharkhand air ambulance crash?
The exact cause is still under investigation by the DGCA and AAIB. However, preliminary reports and officials' statements suggest that inclement weather and a severe thunderstorm in the area at the time were likely contributing factors.
How many people died in the air ambulance crash?
All seven individuals on board the air ambulance perished in the crash, including two pilots, the patient, a doctor, a paramedic, and two attendants.
Who was the patient being transported and why?
The patient was 41-year-old Sanjay Kumar, who had sustained severe burn injuries (65%) in a hotel fire. He was being airlifted from Ranchi to Delhi for advanced medical treatment.
What were the significant human interest stories related to the crash?
The family of the patient, Sanjay Kumar, had taken a loan of approximately ₹8 lakh to afford the air ambulance. Additionally, Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta, one of the medical professionals who died, was a doctor whose father had sold his farmland to finance his son's education.
Which airline and aircraft were involved in the accident?
The crashed air ambulance was a Beechcraft C90 aircraft, registered as VT-AJV, operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd.