Jharkhand Plane Crash: 23 Minutes from Takeoff to Tragedy

New Delhi, February 24, 2026: In a tragic aviation accident on the evening of February 23, 2026, a medical evacuation flight (air ambulance) crashed in the dense forests of Jharkhand’s Chatra district. All seven individuals on board, including a critical burn patient and two pilots, were confirmed dead.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the aviation community, marking yet another safety crisis in India’s civil aviation sector

The Final Flight: A Detailed Timeline

The flight was a non-scheduled medical evacuation mission intended to transport a patient from Ranchi to a specialized facility in New Delhi.

• 7:11 PM: The aircraft, a Beechcraft C90 (Tail Number: VT-AJV) operated by Delhi-based Redbird Airways, took off from Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi.
• 7:30 PM – 7:33 PM: After climbing to cruising altitude, the cockpit crew established contact with Kolkata Air Traffic Control (ATC). Sources indicate that the pilots requested a route deviation, citing adverse weather conditions and a brewing thunderstorm in the region.
• 7:34 PM: Exactly 23 minutes after takeoff, all communication was lost. The aircraft vanished from radar screens while positioned approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi.
• 10:20 PM: Following an intense search triggered by the disappearance, local villagers in the Simaria block of Chatra district reported a loud explosion and discovered the wreckage in the forested area of Karmatand.

The Victims

The impact of the crash was severe, leaving no survivors. The seven victims have been identified by the district administration:

Role	Name
Patient	Sanjay Kumar (41), a resident of Latehar with 65% burn injuries.
Pilots	Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat and Captain Savrajdeep Singh.
Medical Staff	Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta and Paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra.
Attendants	Archana Devi and Dhruv Kumar (family members of the patient).

The patient, Sanjay Kumar, had been undergoing treatment at Devkamal Hospital in Ranchi since February 16 before his family decided to airlift him to Delhi for advanced care.

Investigation and Likely Causes

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched a formal probe into the disaster.

1. Weather Conditions

Preliminary reports from the Chatra Deputy Commissioner, Keerthishree G, suggest that a severe thunderstorm was active in the flight path at the time of the disappearance. The pilots’ final request for a deviation further supports the theory that inclement weather played a primary role.

2. Technical and Terrain Challenges

The crash occurred in a remote, heavily forested area, which made the initial search and rescue operations difficult. Investigators are now focused on recovering the Flight Data Recorder (Black Box) to determine if the aircraft suffered a technical malfunction while attempting to navigate the storm.

3. Industry Context

This tragedy follows a string of recent aviation incidents in India, including a crash in Baramati just last month. Experts are calling for a thorough review of safety protocols for non-scheduled operators and air ambulance services, which often operate under high-pressure, time-sensitive conditions.

Next Steps for Authorities

The AAIB team from Delhi is currently at the site to conduct a wreckage analysis. The state government has assured the families of a “thorough and impartial investigation” to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the radar silence at 7:34 PM.