The Indian aviation sector is mourning a devastating loss following a fatal medical evacuation flight accident in Jharkhand’s Chatra district. On the evening of February 23, 2026, a Beechcraft C90 air ambulance, operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, went down in a dense forest area, resulting in the tragic death of all seven people on board.
The aircraft was transporting a patient in critical condition from Ranchi to New Delhi for advanced medical care when it lost contact with Air Traffic Control (ATC) and crashed shortly after takeoff.
Table of Contents
- Details of the Incident
- The Victims: Identification of the Deceased
- Search, Rescue, and Recovery Operations
- Investigation and Potential Causes
- Context: Recent Aviation Safety Challenges
Details of the Incident
The flight, identified by the tail number VT-AJV, departed from Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi at 7:11 PM IST. It was scheduled to arrive at the national capital by approximately 10:00 PM.
According to reports from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft established its last successful contact with Kolkata ATC at 7:34 PM. Shortly thereafter, the plane disappeared from radar screens approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi. The wreckage was later discovered in the Bariatu Panchayat area of Simaria, a remote location deep within a forested terrain.
Sanjay Sahu survived 65% burns in a Jharkhand fire.
— shashwat amrev (@AmrevShashwat) February 24, 2026
Family borrowed ₹8 lakh for air ambulance to Delhi. Wife (doctor) & crew aboard.
Plane crashed minutes after takeoff in Chatra forest.All 7 died. Fire couldn't take him.
The crash did. 💔 #breakingnews pic.twitter.com/mPql3knXIa
The Victims: Identification of the Deceased
The crash claimed the lives of the flight crew, medical professionals, the patient, and his family members. Local administration and hospital officials have identified those on board as:
- Flight Crew: Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat and Captain Savrajdeep Singh.
- The Patient: Sanjay Kumar (41), a resident of Latehar, who was being moved to Delhi after suffering 65% burn injuries.
- Medical Team: Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta and Sachin Kumar Mishra.
- Attendants: Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar.
The patient had been under care at Devkamal Hospital in Ranchi since February 16 before the family arranged the private air transfer for specialized treatment.
Search and Recovery Operations
The remote nature of the crash site presented significant hurdles for emergency responders. Led by Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G and SP Sumit Kumar, rescue teams navigated difficult terrain to reach the site late Monday night.
By Tuesday morning, all seven bodies had been retrieved from the debris. They were subsequently moved to Sadar Hospital, Chatra, for post-mortem examinations and formal identification procedures.
Investigation and Potential Causes
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the DGCA have launched a comprehensive probe into the disaster. While a formal conclusion will take time, early assessments point toward several factors:
- Weather Conditions: Preliminary reports suggest inclement weather along the flight path may have contributed to the loss of control.
- Technical Audit: Investigators are looking into the maintenance history of the Redbird Airways fleet.
- Black Box Recovery: Teams are working to recover the flight data recorder to analyze the final minutes of communication and mechanical performance.
Context: Recent Aviation Safety Challenges
This tragedy marks the third significant civilian aviation incident in India within the last several months, sparking concerns regarding safety standards for non-scheduled operators.
| Date | Incident Type | Location | Status |
| June 2025 | Air India Boeing Dreamliner | Ahmedabad | Investigation Ongoing |
| Jan 2026 | Learjet 45 (Private Charter) | Baramati, Pune | Fatal |
| Feb 2026 | Redbird Airways C90 | Chatra, Jharkhand | Fatal |
The recent surge in accidents has prompted calls for more rigorous oversight by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ensure the safety of both commercial and emergency medical flights.
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