An air ambulance travelling from Ranchi to Delhi crashed on Monday night, February 23, 2026. The incident occurred in Chatra district of Jharkhand. All seven people on board lost their lives, including a patient.
The aircraft departed from Birsa Munda Airport at 7:11 pm. Authorities confirmed the crash location within Jharkhand territory. The accident has again raised safety concerns within the aviation sector, especially after the recent Baramati crash.
Aircraft Details and Weather Conditions
The plane was a Beechcraft C90 with registration number VT-AJV. Delhi-based Redbird Airways Private Limited operated the flight.
After contacting Kolkata ATC, the crew requested route deviation due to adverse weather. However, at 7:34 pm, communication and radar contact with Kolkata ceased. The aircraft lost signal around 100 nautical miles south-east of Varanasi.
Victims Identified
Officials identified the deceased as patient Sanjay Kumar, aged 41, who had suffered 63 percent burn injuries. Others included Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta, paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra, attendant Archana Devi, attendant Dhuru Kumar, pilot Vivek Vikas Bhagat, and co-pilot Swarajdeep Singh.
Company Background and Fleet
Akshay Kumar founded Redbird Airways in 2018. In 2019, authorities granted the company a permit for non-scheduled flights, including charter and air ambulance services. According to its website, the firm provides 24/7 medical evacuation equipped with advanced life-saving systems.
The fleet comprises seven aircraft, including Embraer Legacy 600 and Dassault Falcon 2000 models. This crash has triggered fresh scrutiny of charter operators, particularly after a Learjet accident in Baramati in January that killed five people, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Investigation and Regulatory Review
Ranchi Airport Director Vinod Kumar told media that poor weather could have contributed, although investigators will determine the exact cause. Meanwhile, DGCA has initiated special audits of all non-scheduled operators. However, authorities have not released those reports yet. Investigators also have not published findings related to the Baramati operator VSR Ventures.
These incidents have intensified debate over stricter safety norms for private jets and air ambulances.
