ALL seven persons on board an air ambulance were killed after the aircraft crashed near Simaria in Jharkhand’s Chatra district, and their bodies have been brought to a hospital for post-mortem examination, officials said on Tuesday. The Beechcraft C90 air ambulance, operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, was en route to Delhi from Ranchi when it crashed on Monday evening in the Bariatu Panchayat area of Simaria, located deep inside a forest, killing all seven onboard, including two pilots. The aircraft took off from Ranchi airport at 7.11 pm and went missing around 7.30 pm. It lost contact with the air traffic control about 20 minutes after departure, he said. Ranchi airport director Vinod Kumar said inclement weather could be a possible reason behind the crash, though the exact cause would be ascertained after a detailed probe. “The bodies have been handed over to family members after the autopsy,” a health department official told PTI. The deceased have been identified as Captain Vikas Bhagat, Captain Savrajdeep Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta, Sachin Kumar Mishra, Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar. As the bodies were handed over to family members, many turned inconsolable, expressing shock and disbelief. Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed grief over the incident, and said the state government will provide all possible support to the affected families.

 

“Since receiving the news last night of the heart-wrenching incident involving the air ambulance... The district administration, along with the state government, has been fully engaged in addressing it. In this tragic event, we have lost a total of seven of our own, including brave pilots, leaving me deeply anguished and stunned,” Soren said in a post on X. “I pray to Marang Buru (supreme tribal deity) that the departed souls find peace, and the bereaved families get the strength and patience to endure this unbearable sorrow. The state government stands in complete solidarity with all affected families and it will provide every possible assistance,” he said. The Governor said the news of the air ambulance accident was extremely heartbreaking. “My deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this tragedy. May god grant them the strength to bear this immense sorrow. Om Shanti,” Gangwar said. Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari said the State Government will conduct a probe into how permission was given to the aircraft to fly during “inclement weather”.

 

He also said proper compensation would be given to the kin of the deceased. Terming the crash extremely unfortunate, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth said unpleasant weather could be one of the reasons, which will be determined by the probe. In a post on X, Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar condoled the deaths. “The news of the air ambulance accident is extremely heartbreaking. My deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this tragedy. May god grant them the strength to bear this immense sorrow. Om Shanti,” Gangwar said. The deceased have been identified as Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat, Captain Savrajdeep Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta, Sachin Kumar Mishra, Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar.