Medical Charter Aircraft Crashes in Jharkhand; 7 On Board, Rescue Operations Activate

Hello Mumbai National Desk 

Ranchi Monday: A Delhi-bound medical charter aircraft crashed near Simaria in Chatra district of Jharkhand on Monday, officials confirmed. The aircraft was carrying seven persons, including a patient, at the time of the accident.
According to official aviation sources, the aircraft bearing registration VT-AJV, a Beechcraft King Air BE9L, was operated by Redbird Airways Pvt. Ltd.. The flight had departed from Ranchi at 1337 UTC (1907 IST) en route to Delhi on a medical evacuation mission.
Flight Details
The aircraft was operating as a medical flight with a patient onboard. The total persons on board were seven, including:
1 Patient
1 Doctor
1 Paramedic
2 Attendants
1 Pilot-in-Command (PIC)
1 Co-Pilot
The Pilot-in-Command was identified as Vivek Vikash Bhagat, while the First Officer was Savrajdeep Singh. The aircraft had an endurance of 4 hours and 12 minutes.
The flight was cruising at Flight Level 140 (FL140) and had requested a climb to FL180. The estimated time of arrival (ETA) in Delhi was 1630 UTC (2200 IST).
Last Contact & Radar Details
After departure, Ranchi ATC handed over the aircraft to Kolkata Area Control while it was passing 6,000 feet, approximately 8 nautical miles from Ranchi VOR.
The aircraft was expected to cross waypoint ATALI at 1403 UTC (1933 IST). However:
The last radio contact was recorded at 1404 UTC (1934 IST) with Kolkata Area Control Sector UKW (VHF 132.25).
VHF communication was lost approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi.
The aircraft did not establish contact with either Varanasi ATC or Lucknow ATC.
Radar replay from Varanasi indicated the last radar contact at 1352 UTC (1922 IST), about 324 degrees and 40 nautical miles from Ranchi at FL138.
The aircraft had reportedly deviated to the right of its planned track before contact was lost.
Emergency Response
Following loss of contact, the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) in Kolkata was activated at 1435 UTC (2005 IST). Local authorities, including the District Collector and Superintendent of Police of the last known location near Palamau, have been informed.
Search and rescue operations are currently underway in the region near Simaria, close to Chatra district in Jharkhand. Further details regarding casualties or the cause of the crash are awaited.
Authorities have initiated a formal investigation to determine the circumstances leading to the accident.
More updates are expected as rescue teams continue operations at the crash site.