DGCA Confirms Crash of Redbird Airways Beechcraft C90 Air Ambulance in Jharkhand
NEW DELHI, February 24, 2026 — The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed the crash of a Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd Beechcraft C90 aircraft (Registration VT-AJV) in Jharkhand’s Chatra district. The aircraft was operating as an air ambulance on a medical evacuation flight from Ranchi to Delhi with seven individuals on board, including two crew members.
After departing Ranchi at 19:11 IST, the pilot contacted Kolkata ATC to request a weather-related deviation; however, all radar and radio contact was lost at 19:34 IST, approximately 100 nautical miles South-East of Varanasi.Following the disappearance of the aircraft, the District Administration’s search and rescue teams were successfully deployed to the Kasaria Panchayat region where the wreckage was located.
The DGCA has further announced that a specialized team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is being dispatched to the site to conduct a thorough probe into the cause of the accident.
Local authorities and aviation officials are currently onsite, and further updates regarding the status of the passengers and crew will be shared as the investigation progresses.