DIVYA DELHI : Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd operated a Beechcraft C90 air ambulance that crashed near Simaria in Chatra district of Jharkhand on Monday evening, killing all seven people on board, officials said. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft (VT-AJV) was en route from Ranchi to Delhi on a medical evacuation flight. It took off at 7:11 pm and lost contact with air traffic control around 20 minutes later, before crashing in the forested Bariatu Panchayat area. An investigation has been launched, and a team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is being dispatched. SDPO Shubham Khandelwal confirmed that all seven bodies have been recovered and sent to Sadar Hospital, Chatra, for post-mortem. The deceased were identified as Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat, Captain Savrajdeep Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta, Sachin Kumar Mishra, Archana Devi, and Dhuru Kumar. Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G said the aircraft went missing around 7:30 pm before crashing deep inside a forest. Ranchi airport director Vinod Kumar indicated that inclement weather could be a possible factor, though the exact cause will be determined after a detailed probe. The air ambulance had been arranged for a burn patient undergoing treatment at a Ranchi hospital, who was being shifted to Delhi for advanced care. Former Chief Minister Champai Soren expressed grief over the tragedy and offered prayers for the victims and their families.
