A routine medical transport ended in catastrophe Monday night when a twin-engine air ambulance plunged into a remote forest in eastern India — killing all seven people on board.
The aircraft took off from Ranchi at 7:11 p.m. local time. It was bound for Delhi. Just over 20 minutes later, it was gone.
By 7:34 p.m., air traffic controllers lost both communication and radar contact with the Beechcraft C90 aircraft. Officials say the plane had requested a weather-related deviation before disappearing.
“There was a loss of communication and radar contact shortly after the deviation request,” India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in a public statement. “Search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched.”
The wreckage was later found deep inside a forested area near Simaria in Jharkhand’s Chatra district.
“All seven on board the air ambulance were killed in the crash,” Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G told local reporters. “The plane was on the way to Delhi from Ranchi.”
The victims have now been identified.
Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat was piloting the aircraft. Captain Savrajdeep Singh was serving as co-pilot. On board were Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta and paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra, along with patient Sanjay Kumar and attendants Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar.
The aircraft was operated by Redbird Airways and registered as VT-AJV. It was classified as an air ambulance — a specialized medical transport typically equipped with life-support systems and staffed by trained medical personnel.
Air ambulances are often used in time-sensitive emergencies. They operate under tight timelines. Weather can be a factor, especially during night flights and in regions with limited ground lighting.
Officials say the aircraft had established contact with Kolkata air traffic control before requesting the route change due to weather conditions.
Then it vanished.
“The District Administration search and rescue team is at the location and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau team is being dispatched for investigation,” the aviation authority said. “Further information will be shared.”
Investigators will now comb through flight data, maintenance records, and weather reports to determine what went wrong. Early reports suggest deteriorating weather may have played a role, but authorities have not confirmed a cause.
The crash site’s remote location made access difficult for first responders. Recovery efforts continued late into the night.
For families waiting in Delhi, the outcome was devastating.
What began as a critical medical mission ended as one of the region’s deadliest small-aircraft disasters this year. Now, aviation authorities are under pressure to deliver answers — and fast.
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