Deadly Ranchi-Delhi Air Ambulance Crash
By Omni 360 News | February 24, 2026
It is a sad event that has shocked the aviation world. A medical evacuation flight meant to save a life ended in a crash. On Monday night an air ambulance flying from Ranchi to New Delhi crashed into the forests of Jharkhand’s Chatra district. All seven people on board died.
The flight was carrying 41-year- Sanjay Kumar, a patient from Latehar who had bad burn injuries. He was being rushed to the capital for better treatment. What was supposed to be a journey turned into a nightmare just minutes after takeoff.
The Final Minutes: A Race Against the Storm
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the Beechcraft C90 (registration VT-AJV) operated by Redbird Airways took off from Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Airport at 7:11 PM. For the twenty minutes the flight seemed normal.. As the aircraft approached the border of Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh the crew faced severe weather.
At 7:34 PM the pilots contacted Air Traffic Control (ATC) in Kolkata. They asked to change their route to avoid a thunderstorm. That was the time anyone heard from them. Seconds later the aircraft disappeared from the radar.
Rescue Challenges in the Deep Jungle
The wreckage was eventually found near Simaria in the Bariatu Panchayat area. Reaching the site was very difficult. Local officials, including Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G said the crash occurred in a ” forested and mountainous terrain.” It was almost impossible for rescue vehicles to reach the spot.
Rescue teams from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and local police had to walk two kilometers through thick vegetation. By the time they arrived there were no survivors. “The impact was devastating ” officials stated. The medical team, the patient’s family and the experienced pilots had all died.
The Human Cost
The victims have been identified as:
- The Crew: Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat and Captain Savrajdeep Singh.
- The. Family: Sanjay Kumar, Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar.
- The Medical Team: Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta and Paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra.
The Investigation: Why Did It Happen?
A thunderstorm is thought to be the reason.. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has started a full probe to look for deeper answers. Investigators are trying to retrieve the “Black Box” (Flight Data Recorder). They want to know if there were any failures alongside the poor weather.
This incident has also put Redbird Airways under scrutiny. Aviation experts are calling for safety audits for non-scheduled chartered flights in India.
As the nation mourns this loss the priority is supporting the grieving families. We must ensure such a disaster never happens again. Stay tuned to Omni 360 News for updates, on this developing story.Uttar Pradesh, the crew encountered a wall of severe weather.
At 7:34 PM, the pilots contacted Air Traffic Control (ATC) in Kolkata, requesting a deviation from their planned route to avoid a massive thunderstorm. That was the last time anyone heard from them. Seconds later, the aircraft vanished from the radar.
