An air ambulance carrying seven people crashed near Simaria in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday, February 23, killing everyone on board. The aircraft, operated by Redbird Airways Private Limited, had departed from Ranchi at 7:11 p.m. for Delhi but lost contact with radar about half an hour later. It was later found wrecked in a forested area under Bariatu Panchayat. Officials confirmed that all seven passengers, including the patient being transferred, died in the crash.

According to Ranchi airport director Vinod Kumar, the plane had communicated with Kolkata Air Traffic Control shortly after takeoff before disappearing from radar. Local residents reported heavy rain, lightning, and strong winds at the time of the incident, and authorities suspect adverse weather conditions as the likely cause. The patient’s relatives said the air transfer was chosen on medical advice due to risks associated with road travel.

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has launched a full investigation into the crash to determine the exact cause and contributing factors.