Air Ambulance Crashes in Jharkhand After Takeoff from Ranchi
A Delhi-bound air ambulance carrying seven individuals, including two crew members, crashed shortly after departing from Ranchi on Monday night. The incident has sparked immediate search and rescue operations and raised urgent questions about aviation safety in India.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The aircraft involved was a Beechcraft C90, registered as VT-AJV and operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd. It took off from Ranchi at 7:11 pm, embarking on a medical evacuation flight destined for Delhi. On board were a patient, a doctor, a paramedic, two attendants, and two pilots.
According to the flight manifest, the passengers included patient Sanjay Kumar, Dr. Vikash Kumar Gupta, paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra, attendants Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar, and pilots Captains Vivek Vikas Bhagat and Savrajdeep Singh. The aircraft was scheduled to arrive in Delhi by 10 pm.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Crash
After climbing to an altitude of 6,000 feet, the pilots contacted Kolkata air traffic control at 7:34 pm to request a "weather deviation," indicating their intention to alter course to avoid adverse weather conditions. However, communication and radar contact were lost approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi soon thereafter.
The aircraft ultimately crashed in the Kasaria Panchayat area of Chatra district, Jharkhand. Local district administration teams have been deployed to the site for search and rescue efforts.
Official Response and Investigation
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a preliminary statement confirming the crash and detailing the circumstances. An Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) team is being dispatched to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident.
This 39-year-old plane's crash adds to growing concerns over the safety of older aircraft in service, particularly in critical operations like medical evacuations.
Broader Context: Aviation Safety in India
This incident marks the second crash involving a small aircraft in India within just one month, intensifying scrutiny on aviation safety standards. On January 28, a plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra, resulted in the deaths of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others.
Historically, air ambulance crashes have been a recurring issue. In May 2011, a Pilatus PC-12 air ambulance flying from Patna to Delhi crashed in Faridabad, claiming the lives of all seven people on board and three individuals on the ground.
These repeated incidents highlight systemic challenges in ensuring the reliability and safety of air ambulance services, which are crucial for emergency medical transport across the country.
