NEW DELHI: A constitution aircraft carrying seven individuals onboard, together with two crew members crashed close to Simaria in Jharkhand on Monday, shortly after takeoff from Ranchi Airport. The plane, en-route to Delhi, was earlier reported to have disappeared from radar, officers stated.According to the Ranchi Airport Director, the flight was an air ambulance. It departed as scheduled, with communication established with the following management station earlier than air site visitors management was handed over. However, contact was subsequently misplaced, and the aircraft didn’t re-establish communication with Ranchi Airport.Rescue staff is on scene whereas Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is being dispatched for additional motion.“On 23.02.2026 Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd Beechcraft C90 aircraft VT-AJV operating medical evacuation (Air Ambulance) flight on sector “Ranchi-Delhi” crashed in Kasaria Panchayat of Chatra district, in Jharkhand. There were seven persons on board including two crew members,” said the official airport assertion. Offering additional particulars it added, “The aircraft was airborne from Ranchi at 19:11 IST. After establishing contact with Kolkata, at 19:34 IST aircraft lost communication and RADAR contact with Kolkata at approximately 100 NM South-East of Varanasi. District Administration search and rescue team is at the location and AAIB team is being dispatched for investigation. Further information will be shared.”Meanwhile, DGCA in an official assertion stated, “On 23.02.2026 Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd Beechcraft C90 aircraft VT-AJV operating medical evacuation (Air Ambulance) flight on sector “Ranchi-Delhi” crashed in Kasaria Panchayat of Chatra district, in Jharkhand. There were seven persons on board including two crew members. The aircraft was airborne from Ranchi at 19:11 IST. After establishing contact with Kolkata, aircraft requested for deviation due to weather, at 19:34 IST aircraft lost communication and RADAR contact with Kolkata at approximately 100 NM South-East of Varanasi. The District Administration search and rescue team is at the location and the AAIB team is being dispatched for investigation. Further information will be shared.”
