In a shocking aviation mishap, a medical charter flight from Ranchi crashed deep inside a Jharkhand forest, prompting a massive search operation. The DGCA revealed that Redbird Airways’ Beechcraft King Air BE9L, registration VT-EJV, went down in Chatra’s Kasariya panchayat with seven souls aboard: one patient, a doctor, paramedic, two caregivers, pilot, and co-pilot.
Departing Ranchi at 7:07 PM, the aircraft maintained contact with Kolkata control before vanishing from radar near Palamu at 7:34 PM. The crash site, identified via last known position near Simariya’s Karamatand village, lies in inaccessible jungle terrain.
Villagers’ reports of a deafening blast and billowing smoke spurred quick response from local police and administration. Teams are battling dense woods and difficult access, with joint efforts from disaster response units underway.
The AAIB is en route for a thorough inquiry, as DGCA vows updates. Civil aviation regulators emphasize that preliminary details are fluid, with no confirmed casualties yet. This air ambulance was ferrying a critical patient to Delhi, underscoring the vital role of such services.
Amid heightened alerts, authorities are leveraging all resources. The incident raises questions on operational safety in remote sectors, with full revelations expected post-investigation.