A tragic incident occurred when an Indian air ambulance transporting a burn patient to a hospital crashed in a remote forest area in eastern India, resulting in seven deaths, including the patient onboard.
On 24 February 2026, international news agencies reported that a Beechcraft C90 air ambulance operated by Redbird Airway Pvt. Ltd. crashed in a remote forest in eastern India, killing all seven people onboard.
Reports state the aircraft lost control just minutes after taking off from Ranchi Airport, the capital of Jharkhand state, before losing contact. The plane was transporting a critically ill burn patient from New Delhi. Onboard were the patient, doctors, nurses, and two patient relatives, while the other two deceased were the pilot and co-pilot.
Initial investigations suggest the plane may have lost control due to turbulent winds caused by bad weather. India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation has deployed an accident investigation team to thoroughly examine the cause. Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion before seeing smoke rising from the dense forest, prompting authorities to rush to the crash site immediately.
Air ambulances are widely used in India to transfer critically ill patients from smaller towns to major medical centers. However, this incident raises increased concerns over aviation safety during adverse weather, especially in regions with challenging terrain.