Ranchi-Delhi Air Ambulance Crash: All 7 on Board Dead in Jharkhand

Ranchi-Delhi Air Ambulance Crash kills all seven aboard after takeoff, prompting aviation probe into cause in Jharkhand’s forested Chatra district.

shivani Poli February 24, 2026

88 3 minutes read

All 7 on Board Dead in Ranchi-Delhi Air Ambulance Crash in Jharkhand’s Chatra: Full Story and Investigation

On February 24, 2026, a tragic Ranchi-Delhi Air Ambulance Crash claimed the lives of all seven people on board after the aircraft crashed in the Chatra district of Jharkhand shortly after taking off from Ranchi.

The Beechcraft C90 air ambulance, operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, departed Ranchi Airport at around 7:11 p.m. local time en route to New Delhi, where it was scheduled to drop off a critically ill patient for advanced treatment. Minutes later, around 7:34 p.m., the aircraft lost radar and communication contact while flying over dense forest land in the Bariatu Panchayat area near Simaria.

What Happened on Board

Authorities confirmed that all seven people on board were killed in the crash. Those aboard included:

Two pilots
A patient being transported for medical care
A doctor
A paramedic
Two attendants traveling with the patient

Local officials said that after contact was lost, debris was found in a heavily forested area of Chatra, and emergency teams were dispatched to the crash site. All seven bodies were recovered and sent to Sadar Hospital in Chatra for post-mortem examinations.

Weather and Flight Path Before the Crash

Flight data indicates that the air ambulance had established contact with Kolkata Air Traffic Control before the crash and had requested a route deviation due to bad weather, likely influenced by strong winds, heavy rain, and turbulence in the region. Residents near the crash site reported hearing a loud explosion and witnessing the aircraft descend rapidly before impact.

Jharkhand Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G suggested that a thunderstorm may have contributed to the crash, though officials have made it clear that the exact cause will be determined only after a detailed investigation.

Emergency Response and Investigation

Teams from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have been dispatched to the crash site to investigate the cause of the accident. Investigators are expected to recover the aircraft’s black box — including the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder — to gain clearer insights into what happened during the final minutes of the flight.

The dense forest and difficult terrain of the crash site posed logistical challenges for rescue and recovery teams, who had to trek deep into the area to reach the wreckage.

Reaction from Officials and Community

Local and state officials expressed profound sorrow over the tragic incident. Jharkhand Health Minister and district authorities offered condolences to the families of the victims and assured them of state support.

This crash has also renewed discussions about aviation safety, especially for air ambulance services operating in challenging weather conditions over forested and remote regions. With adverse weather likely playing a role, aviation safety experts are expected to reassess operational procedures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Context and Broader Implications

Air ambulances play a critical role in India’s healthcare infrastructure, transporting patients from smaller cities and towns to tertiary care hospitals in major metropolitan centers. While these services are essential, this tragedy highlights the risks involved, particularly when flying in adverse weather conditions and over difficult terrain.

The Ranchi-Delhi Air Ambulance Crash serves as a somber reminder of the challenges faced by medical evacuation flights and the importance of stringent safety checks, real-time weather monitoring, and improved communication protocols.

Authorities are expected to release more information as the investigation progresses, which may offer insights into what triggered the crash and whether additional safeguards are needed for such crucial services.

In the meantime, the nation mourns the loss of seven lives in a mission meant to save one — underscoring the profound fragility of life and the enduring need to improve safety in critical transport operations.

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