Takeoff at 7:11 pm, contact lost 23 minutes later: Jharkhand plane crash timeline and what we know

By Admin

24 Feb, 2026

A Tragic Night in Jharkhand

Seven people lost their lives after an air ambulance transporting a patient from Ranchi to New Delhi crashed in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday night. The flight, which was scheduled to reach the national capital by 10:00 PM, never made it to its destination.

The incident has raised serious concerns about aviation safety, marking yet another tragic chapter in India’s civil aviation sector.

Timeline of the Crash

7:11 PM – Takeoff from Ranchi

The chartered medical flight took off from Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi at 7:11 PM.

The aircraft was a Beechcraft C90 operated by Delhi-based Redbird Airways, bearing tail number VT-AJV. It was carrying seven people on board, including:

• Pilot
  
  

• Co-pilot
  
  

• Patient
  
  

• Medical staff
  
  

According to Ranchi airport sources cited by PTI, the aircraft took off normally and established contact with the next air traffic control station. After this coordination, control was handed over as per standard aviation procedure.

7:34 PM – Contact Lost

In a statement issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), it was confirmed that the aircraft lost communication and radar contact with Kolkata at 7:34 PM.

As per DGCA, the Beechcraft C90 lost communication approximately 100 nautical miles south-east of Varanasi. Shortly after losing radar contact, the aircraft went down in a forested area near Simaria in Jharkhand.

“After this contact was lost. The plane did not contact the Ranchi Airport,” an official told PTI.

The loss of contact came just 23 minutes after takeoff.

Around 10:20 PM – Crash Confirmed

The crash was reported at approximately 10:20 PM. By then, all seven on board were declared dead.

SP Sumit Kumar told ANI:
“We got information around 10 that an accident has happened... Getting here was difficult considering the terrain... The Delhi team will come here for investigation and try to recover the black box... Total number of deaths is seven.”

Rescue operations were challenging due to the forested and difficult terrain in the Simaria region.

Investigation Underway

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a formal probe into the accident. Additionally, a team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has visited the crash site to examine the wreckage and recover the black box for further analysis.

The investigation will focus on:

• Communication breakdown
  
  

• Technical failure possibilities
  
  

• Weather conditions
  
  

• Air traffic control coordination
  
  

• Mechanical or operational issues
  
  

The final cause of the crash will only be determined after a detailed technical investigation.

Third Aviation Crash Since Air India Tragedy

Monday’s crash is the latest safety crisis affecting India’s aviation sector.

It is the third fatal civilian aviation incident since June 2025, when an Air India Boeing Dreamliner operating as flight AI 171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport. In that tragedy, only one person   a 40-year-old British national   survived. The final report on the AI 171 crash is still awaited.

Another recent accident occurred last month when a Learjet 45 aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others crashed in Pune’s Baramati, killing all on board.

These repeated incidents have intensified scrutiny on aviation safety standards, aircraft maintenance, and emergency response systems in India.

What We Know So Far

• The flight took off from Ranchi at 7:11 PM.
  
  

• Contact with Kolkata ATC was lost at 7:34 PM.
  
  

• The aircraft was a Beechcraft C90 (VT-AJV) operated by Redbird Airways.
  
  

• It crashed near Simaria in Jharkhand’s Chatra district.
  
  

• All seven people on board died.
  
  

• DGCA and AAIB have launched investigations.
  
  

• This marks the third fatal civilian aviation accident in India since June 2025.
  
  

Conclusion

The Jharkhand plane crash has once again shaken public confidence in aviation safety. An air ambulance mission   meant to save a life   ended in tragedy within just 23 minutes of takeoff.

As investigators work to uncover the cause, the focus now shifts to accountability, safety audits, and preventing further such incidents in India’s rapidly growing aviation sector.

The nation awaits answers.