Breaking news from Jharkhand: An air ambulance chartered for a medical emergency plummeted into a remote jungle in Chatra’s Kasariya area, carrying seven individuals from Ranchi towards Delhi. Operated by Redbird Airways, the Beechcraft C90 (VT-EJV) issued no distress call before vanishing from radar scopes.
Takeoff from Ranchi occurred at 7:11 PM, with contact severed at 7:34 PM post-Kolkata handover, last positioned 100 NM southeast of Varanasi near Palamu. The flight manifest included one patient, medical personnel (doctor and paramedic), two caregivers, and flight crew.
Local alerts from Karmatand villagers about explosion-like sounds and rising smoke triggered a swift multi-agency response. Despite the site’s inaccessibility—thick woods and hilly paths—search teams equipped with radar intel are pushing forward.
DGCA’s statement underscores ongoing rescue ops by district officials, with AAIB investigators mobilizing. Centralized emergency protocols monitor real-time data, as civil aviation brass oversees from Delhi.
The incident spotlights vulnerabilities in air medical services, especially in India’s hinterlands. With landing slotted for 10 PM in the capital, the sudden silence has gripped the nation. Investigators will dissect flight data recorders and wreckage to pinpoint factors like weather, mechanical issues, or human error. Prayers are with the families as operations intensify into the night.