In a harrowing aviation mishap, an air ambulance ferrying a critical patient from Ranchi to Delhi crashed into a remote jungle in Jharkhand, prompting a massive rescue operation. The DGCA reported the Beechcraft King Air (BE9L), managed by Delhi-based Redbird Airways, lost contact shortly after takeoff, with all seven souls aboard now the focus of urgent search efforts.
Flight details reveal departure from Ranchi at 7:07 PM, plotted for a nighttime arrival in the capital. Contact with Kolkata ATC severed at 7:34 PM near Palamu, leading to the wreckage discovery in Chatra’s Kasaria area. Eyewitnesses in Karamatand village described a deafening crash followed by billowing smoke, triggering immediate local response.
The passenger manifest included a medical patient accompanied by a doctor, paramedic, two caregivers, pilot, and co-pilot—highlighting the high-stakes nature of such missions. Rescue teams from district administration, police, and NDRF-like units are navigating treacherous jungle paths, hampered by darkness and geography.
DGCA’s statement emphasized ongoing investigations by AAIB, with radar data guiding the hunt. Senior civil aviation brass and security agencies are looped in, ensuring coordinated action. While crash causes remain speculative—pending black box analysis and wreckage examination—the incident reignites debates on air ambulance safety protocols in India’s varied topography.
Communities in Chatra hold vigil as helicopters and ground teams push forward. This event not only tests emergency response capabilities but serves as a stark reminder of the perils faced by those in the skies serving the ill. Updates are anticipated as dawn breaks, potentially shedding light on fates and factors.