Ranchi, Feb 24: All seven persons on board a Ranchi-Delhi air ambulance were killed after the aircraft crashed in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday night, officials confirmed.

Initial reports had suggested one fatality. However, Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G later clarified that there were no survivors in the crash near Simaria. “All seven on board the air ambulance were killed in the crash,” the senior official informed.

Victims Identified; Medical Evacuation Mission Ends in Tragedy
The deceased were identified as Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat, pilot-in-command, and Captain Savrajdeep Singh, co-pilot.

The medical team and passengers included Sanjay Kumar (41), the patient; his attendants Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar; Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta; and paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra.

The aircraft involved was a Beechcraft C90, registered as VT-AJV and operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd. It was on a medical evacuation mission from Ranchi to Delhi when it went down shortly after takeoff.

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Aircraft Lost Contact Minutes After Takeoff: DGCA
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the flight departed Ranchi at 7:11 pm and was scheduled to land in Delhi around 10 pm.

Communication and radar contact with Kolkata were lost at 7:34 pm, approximately 100 nautical miles south-east of Varanasi, the regulator said.

Patient Had 65% Burns, Was Being Shifted for Advanced Treatment
Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Chandwa in Jharkhand’s Latehar district, had suffered 65 per cent burn injuries.

Dr Anant Sinha, chief plastic surgeon at Ranchi’s Devnika Hospital, told India Today TV that Kumar had been admitted to Devkamal Hospital on February 16 in critical condition. Given the severity of his injuries, the family decided to shift him to a higher medical centre in Delhi for specialised treatment.

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Dr Sinha said Kumar was discharged at around 4.30 pm on Monday before being transported to the airport for the evacuation flight.

AAIB Team to Probe Cause of Crash
A team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been dispatched to investigate the cause of the crash. Officials said a detailed inquiry will examine technical, operational and environmental factors leading to the accident.