In a devastating setback for a family seeking life-saving treatment, an air ambulance ferrying a severely burned patient from Ranchi to Delhi crashed in Chatra’s dense forests, killing everyone on board.
Sanjay Sahu, a hotelier from Latehar who endured horrific burns covering over 60% of his body in a February 16 blaze, was the mission’s focus. Admitted to Ranchi’s Dev Kamal Hospital, his worsening health prompted the high-stakes air transfer. His wife, a relative, doctor, paramedic, pilot, and co-pilot shared the doomed flight.
Takeoff from Ranchi at 7:11 PM on February 23 turned fatal minutes later. Eyewitnesses in Kasariya Panchayat recounted a thunderous boom shattering the evening calm. One local youth, standing on his rooftop, witnessed the low-flying plane before the crash. ‘It felt like an explosion,’ he said, as crowds gathered at the site 3.5 km from nearby homes.
District officials, including SDO Maheshwari Yadav and Additional Collector Arvind Kumar, coordinated a swift search amid the wreckage. Seven bodies were extracted, confirming the worst. DGCA’s statement detailed the route deviation request amid poor weather, followed by sudden loss of contact.
Hospital sources verified Sanjay’s grave injuries and the family’s urgent Delhi plans. Relatives, speaking through tears, highlighted the air ambulance as their last hope. As investigations by aviation authorities and forensics unfold, questions swirl over weather impacts, maintenance, and emergency protocols in India’s regional air medical services.