New Delhi (TDI): All seven people aboard a Beechcraft air ambulance that crashed in India’s eastern state of Jharkhand on Monday have been confirmed dead, officials said.
The aircraft, identified as a Beechcraft C90, was operated by Redbird Airways. It had taken off from Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, but requested a change in its flight path due to adverse weather conditions, according to India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Shortly after the request, the aircraft lost communication and radar contact, the regulator said. The crash occurred in Chatra district during a thunderstorm, reportedly in a forested area that was difficult to access.
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Local administrative official Keerthishree G told reporters that rescue and medical teams reached the site and confirmed that all seven people, including two crew members, the patient, and his relatives, had died.
“We have pulled out the bodies and sent them for post-mortem and further investigation,” she said.
The patient, identified as Sanjay Kumar, had reportedly suffered severe burn injuries in a fire and was undergoing treatment in Ranchi. His condition worsened, prompting family members to arrange transfer to Delhi by air ambulance, according to his brother.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has dispatched a team to determine the cause of the crash. Aviation experts note that air accident investigations often take months, and sometimes over a year, as they typically involve multiple contributing factors.
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The incident follows another recent aviation tragedy in which a Learjet 45 charter aircraft crashed last month, killing all five people on board, including the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra.
Authorities have not yet released further details on the circumstances surrounding Monday’s crash.
