Patient in air ambulance that crashed in Jharkhand had 65% burns, was being flown to Delhi for better treatment: New details emerge after mishap kills 7

The air ambulance crashed on Monday evening

• Air ambulance crash in Jharkhand kills all seven on board
• Patient with 65% burns was being flown from Ranchi to Delhi
• Investigation underway; weather may have contributed to crash

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Fresh details have emerged about the fatal air ambulance crash in Jharkhand’s Chatra district, revealing that the patient being transported had suffered 65 per cent burn injuries and was being flown to Delhi for advanced medical care.

The Beechcraft C90 aircraft, operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, was on a Ranchi to Delhi medical evacuation flight when it crashed on Monday evening in a forested area near Simaria. All seven persons on board, including the patient, two pilots and medical staff, were killed.

According to Anant Sinha, CEO of Devkamal Hospital in Ranchi, the patient had been undergoing treatment at the facility before the decision was taken to shift him to the national capital. “The patient, Sanjay Kumar (41), a resident of Chandwa in Latehar district, was brought to the hospital with 65 per cent burn injuries on February 16. He was being treated in the hospital,” he said. The family later opted to transfer him for specialised treatment. “They arranged an air ambulance on Monday. The patient left the hospital for Delhi around 4.30 pm,” he added.

The aircraft took off from Ranchi at 7.11 pm and subsequently lost contact with air traffic control. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said the crew had established communication with Kolkata air traffic control and requested a deviation due to weather at 19:34 IST, shortly before communication and radar contact were lost.

Local authorities confirmed that the crash site was located in the Bariatu Panchayat area of Simaria in Chatra district. Rescue teams from the district administration reached the spot, and the bodies of all seven occupants were recovered.

The deceased have been identified as Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat, Captain Savrajdeep Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta, Sachin Kumar Mishra, Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar.

An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway, with an Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau team being dispatched to the site. Officials have indicated that weather conditions may have played a role, though the exact cause will be determined after a detailed probe.