Chatra Air Ambulance Crash: Grieving Father Demands Impartial Probe Over Compensation
More than a month after a tragic air ambulance crash in Chatra district claimed seven lives on February 23, the father of the pilot has made a poignant appeal. Deo Sahay Bhagat, a senior official in the Chatra administration, stated on Friday that his family does not seek financial compensation but insists on a proper and impartial investigation into the incident.
The Fatal Flight and Its Victims
The ill-fated aircraft was a nearly 40-year-old Beechcraft C90A operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd. It crashed in the jungles near Simaria, just 17 minutes after taking off from Ranchi airport. The pilot, 28-year-old Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat, was at the controls. Other victims included co-pilot Captain Savrajdeep Singh, paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra, burn patient Sanjay Kumar, his wife Archana Devi, attendant Druv Kumar, and Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta.
Preliminary Findings and Family's Concerns
The preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has indicated that the plane's emergency location transmitter failed to activate, causing it to disappear from radar. Bhagat, an executive engineer in the rural works department, expressed deep concern over the state government's decision to extend the probe period by six months, fearing it could further delay justice.
"I don't want any compensation. I just want a fair and impartial investigation so that the truth comes out," Bhagat told TOI. He has met with state rural development minister Deepika Pandey Singh during her visit to Hazaribag, urging assistance in expediting the investigation.
Allegations of Negligence and Parallels with Past Accidents
Bhagat drew parallels with other aviation accidents, such as the chartered flight of Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar and the Ahmedabad AI plane crash, noting that "the real cause of accidents often remains buried." He emphasized his desire to avoid a similar fate in this case.
He raised serious questions about the circumstances leading to the crash:
- The aircraft was allowed to take off despite adverse weather conditions.
- Negligence may have played a role, as both engines were found separated from the main body post-crash.
- His son had requested a deviation from ATC Kolkata, but it was too late by then.
- The scheduled take-off time was 5 pm, but the flight departed two hours later at 7:07 pm.
Bhagat also claimed that the air ambulance company has ceased responding to his calls, adding to his distress.
Family's Grief and Additional Tragedy
The emotional toll on the family is profound. Vivek's mother, Geeta Sahay Bhagat, who has undergone open-heart surgery, lamented, "We are living like corpses now." The family faced another tragedy this month when Jung Bahadur Oraon, Vivek's maternal uncle, died of shock on March 14.
Bhagat reiterated his stance on compensation, stating, "I don't want a single penny. My son is gone — what will I do with the money?"
Detailed Account from the AAIB Report
The AAIB's initial findings provide a detailed timeline:
- The aircraft took off from Ranchi airport at 7:07 pm with 830 litres of fuel.
- Earlier that day, it had operated an air ambulance flight from Delhi to Ranchi with the same crew, with no issues recorded in the tech log book.
- The assigned route to Delhi was W109 on track 297°, but due to weather, the pilot requested to continue on the runway heading (track 313°) after take-off, which was approved by ATC Ranchi.
- At 7:19 pm, ATC Kolkata asked the aircraft to report when in contact with Varanasi, and the pilot acknowledged. This was the last communication.
- No further transmissions were received, and the aircraft crashed at approximately 7:24 pm, with the district administration informed by locals.
This tragic incident underscores critical issues in aviation safety and the urgent need for transparent investigations to prevent future disasters.
