Local villagers said the weather changed very quickly. In the evening, there were strong winds, heavy rain, loud thunder, and lightning. Many residents said they heard a very loud sound when the aircraft hit the ground.
The aircraft was a Beechcraft C90, which had taken off from Ranchi. It was carrying a critically injured burn patient to New Delhi for advanced treatment. Due to bad weather, the pilots had requested a change in the flight path. Shortly after that, the plane disappeared from radar.
Later, parts of the aircraft were found in a forest area near Simaria. Rescue teams rushed to the spot, but sadly, there were no survivors.
Seven Lives Lost in the Tragedy
The crash claimed seven lives. The victims included:
- Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat
- Captain Savrajdeep Singh
- Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta
- Paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra
- Patient Sanjay Kumar
- Archana Devi
- Dhuru Kumar
All bodies were taken to Chatra Sadar Hospital for post-mortem. Officials confirmed that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will investigate the cause of the crash. The black box is expected to provide important details.
Families Speak About Their Pain
The families of the victims are completely shattered. Their stories have touched many hearts and are being widely shared in Daily news highlights.
A Father’s Sacrifice
Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta’s father said he sold his farmland to educate his son and make him a doctor. He proudly said his son was dedicated to saving lives. But now, he questions why proper medical facilities were not available in Ranchi.
He said if better hospitals had been available locally, his son and the patient would not have needed to travel to Delhi.
A Family Trying to Save a Burn Victim
Sanjay Kumar, the patient, had suffered severe burns after a gas cylinder explosion at his small hotel. His condition did not improve in Ranchi, so the family arranged a private air ambulance to take him to Delhi.
A relative said their attempt to save him ended in a much bigger tragedy. Now, two children in the family are left without support. The family also expressed anger, saying the system is weak and needs improvement.
A Brother’s Only Support Gone
Paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra was remembered as the backbone of his family. His elder brother said Sachin started working at a very young age to support the household after their father passed away.
He had been working in ambulance services for the last few years. His brother said he had advised him to take a safer hospital job, but Sachin wanted to continue helping patients in emergency services. Now, his family feels completely broken.
What the Government Said
Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari called it the biggest plane crash in the state’s history. He said an air ambulance’s purpose is to save lives, and it is painful that those who were trying to save someone lost their own lives.
He added that once the crash was confirmed, district officials and health teams were immediately sent to the site. All seven bodies were recovered quickly.
Ranchi MP and Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth also spoke about the tragedy. He said the weather was clear during the day but suddenly changed at night. A yellow weather alert had been issued before the storm.
He stated that only a proper investigation will reveal whether the crash was caused by bad weather, human error, or a technical fault.
About the Airline
The flight was operated by Redbird Airways, a company established in 2018. It received permission for non-scheduled flight services in 2019. According to reports, the airline has six aircraft in its fleet, including the one that crashed.
Authorities are now examining maintenance records, pilot experience, and weather conditions at the time of the accident.
Investigation Underway
The AAIB team is expected to carefully examine:
- Weather reports from that night
- The black box recordings
- Communication between pilots and air traffic control
- Technical condition of the aircraft
A detailed report will be released after the investigation is completed. Until then, many questions remain unanswered.
