Heartbreak gripped Jharkhand after an air ambulance ferrying a critical burn patient crashed in Chatra district, killing everyone on board. Departing Ranchi for Delhi at 7:11 PM, the Redbird Airways Beechcraft C90 lost contact 23 minutes later, slamming into Simaria’s wooded terrain amid stormy weather.
At the epicenter was Sanjay Kumar, a 41-year-old dhaba proprietor from Chandwa, Latehar. A blaze at his roadside eatery left him with 65% burns. Treated initially at Devkamal Hospital in Ranchi since February 16, escalation in his injuries necessitated the aerial transfer. Sanjay’s wife Archana Devi and nephew joined for support, unaware it would be their last moments together.
Two sons remain: Shubham, 17, and Shivam, 13, now tragically parentless. The family’s Chandwa residence has become a hub of sorrow, with villagers offering condolences in hushed tones.
Confirmed fatalities include pilots Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat and Captain Savrajdeep Singh, Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta, paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra, Sanjay Kumar, Archana Devi, and Dheeru Kumar. Dr. Gupta’s dedication to the patient’s care ended in shared fate.
DGCA teams are sifting through wreckage, eyeing bad weather—heavy downpours and reduced visibility—as a prime suspect. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau may also step in for a thorough analysis.
This calamity not only shatters a family but raises alarms over air ambulance operations in inclement conditions. Sanjay’s story, from thriving entrepreneur to air crash victim, encapsulates a nightmare no one anticipates. As the boys navigate their new reality, supported by community, the quest for answers intensifies to prevent future tragedies.