Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari expressed deep sorrow over the Chatra air ambulance crash, describing it as a significant and tragic event where all seven individuals onboard lost their lives in a forested area. The incident occurred while the aircraft was en route to Delhi with a patient.
Upon reaching the crash site in Chatra, Ansari mentioned that the plane vanished from the radar during the patient transfer. He highlighted the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the loss of all seven passengers in the crash. Rescue operations were promptly initiated following the disappearance of the air ambulance.
Officials reported that the air ambulance lost communication shortly after take-off, leading to an immediate emergency response. Search and rescue teams, involving local authorities and disaster response units, scoured the dense forest region to locate the wreckage. Subsequently, all seven occupants were recovered from the crash site.
Expressing concerns about aviation safety, Minister Ansari raised questions about the accountability of national authorities in such incidents. He stressed the need for improved healthcare facilities locally to reduce reliance on air ambulance services. Ansari assured full support from the state government and vowed strict action against those responsible for the crash.
The lack of advanced medical infrastructure in the region was highlighted by the minister, pointing out that patients often have to seek medical treatment outside the state. This reliance on external healthcare services has increased the demand for air ambulance transportation in the area.
The aircraft departed from Ranchi at 7:07 p.m. and lost contact with Kolkata Air Traffic Control at around 7:34 p.m., approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi. The flight, which was scheduled to land in Delhi at 10 p.m., reportedly encountered communication issues near Palamu in northwestern Jharkhand.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash, with aviation experts expected to analyze technical data such as radar records and flight information. Further details regarding the incident are pending as the probe progresses.
