Tragic Air Ambulance Crash in Jharkhand: 7 Dead En Route to Delhi
Ranchi, February 24, 2026
A chartered Redbird Airways Beechcraft King Air B90L medical flight from Ranchi to Delhi crashed in Chatra district’s dense Simaria forests, killing all 7 aboard. The patient with severe burns perished despite evacuation efforts.
Departed Ranchi 7:11 PM Monday; lost contact with Kolkata ATC 7:34 PM (20 mins airborne, ~100 NM SE of Varanasi) after weather deviation request. Post-crash fire scattered wreckage.
Pilots: Capt Vivek Vikas Bhagat, Capt Savrajdeep Singh.
Patient: Sanjay Kumar (41, Latehar; 65% burns from Feb 16 accident).
Medical: Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta, paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra.
Attendants: Archana Devi, Dhuru Kumar (family).
AAIB probe underway; local rescue retrieved charred remains. Patient shifted from Devkamal Hospital for advanced Delhi care—effort ends in heartbreak.