A tragic air ambulance crash in Jharkhand has claimed seven lives, including a critical burn patient and medical crew, just 23 minutes after takeoff from Ranchi airport. The Beechcraft C90 aircraft, operated by Redbird Airways, departed Birsa Munda Airport at 7:11 PM on February 23 en route to Delhi. Contact with air traffic control was lost around 7:34 PM, prompting a frantic search in the state's rugged terrain.

Rescue teams located the mangled wreckage late Sunday night in a forested area near Simaria, Chatra district—about 100 nautical miles from Varanasi. All aboard perished: two pilots, a doctor, a paramedic, the patient, and two attendants. Harsh weather and thick foliage delayed recovery efforts overnight. Police confirmed no survivors by early Monday. "The remote location made access tough, but we've secured the site," said local authorities.

Preliminary reports suggest the pilots sought a route change due to stormy conditions, a move common in eastern India's unpredictable skies. This marks the second small-plane incident in the region within a month, raising fresh safety concerns. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a probe, with investigators en route to recover the black box. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau will lead the inquiry into possible mechanical faults, pilot error, or atmospheric factors.

Air ambulances like this one are vital for India's remote regions, ferrying patients over poor road networks. Yet, night flights in forested zones amplify risks—similar to past crashes in Uttarakhand and elsewhere. Calls for enhanced radar coverage and stricter protocols are growing. Ranchi Airport has resumed operations. Families await post-mortems as condolences pour in. Updates expected as the probe deepens.