Seven people on board a medical evacuation plane died in a crash in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand late on Monday, the aviation regulator said.
The aircraft was flying from the state capital Ranchi to national capital Delhi when it went down in a densely forested area, local authorities confirmed.
“All seven on board the air ambulance were killed in the crash. The plane was on the way to Delhi from Ranchi,” deputy commissioner of Chatra district, Keerthishree G, said.
“The aircraft went missing around 7.30pm. It crashed at Bariatu panchayat area in Simaria,” she said. It was a Beechcraft C90 aircraft operated by the Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd. She said that the site of the crash is located deep inside a forest.
The aircraft had departed Ranchi Airport at 7.11pm local time and lost radar contact with air traffic control shortly after, requesting a deviation due to adverse weather. Police confirmed that all seven bodies had been recovered.
According to Anant Sinha, CEO of Devkamal Hospital in Ranchi, the air ambulance had been arranged for a patient in critical condition.
“The patient, Sanjay Kumar (41), a resident of Chandwa in Latehar district, was brought to the hospital with 65 per cent burn injuries on February 16. He was being treated in the hospital,” he said.
He added that the family members decided to take him to Delhi for better treatment.
“They arranged an air ambulance on Monday. The patient left the hospital for Delhi around 4.30 pm,” he said.
Vijay Kumar, a relative, explained the urgency: “We tried to take him (the patient) by road, but the doctor said we couldn’t. He told us the patient might collapse on the way.
“The doctor said that if we could arrange an air ambulance, then we could take him. So we decided to take him by air ambulance.”
Meanwhile, residents in the Simaria area reported that the crash occurred amid severe weather conditions, including strong winds, heavy rain, lightning, and thunder.
Ranchi airport director Vinod Kumar said that the aircraft lost communication with air traffic control roughly 20 minutes after takeoff.
“Inclement weather could be a reason behind the crash, but the actual cause will be ascertained only after a probe,” he told the media.
Search and rescue teams from the district administration reached the site, and a team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) – a division of the federal Ministry of Civil Aviation which investigates aircraft accidents – is being dispatched to determine the cause of the crash.
Former Jharkhand chief minister and BJP leader Champai Soren expressed sorrow on social media: “I pray for the deceased individuals, including the crew members aboard the plane from Marang Buru (the supreme tribal deity), and for strength to their families during this difficult time.”
Redbird Airways, established in 2018 and operating six aircraft, had received permission for non-scheduled flights in 2019. The crashed aircraft was among the company’s fleet, according to government records.
