AAIB confirms all seven killed in Redbird Airways crash in Jharkhand

It matters to citizens as it provides the initial official facts about the accident, the status of the investigation, and confirms that all seven occupants were killed.

Who it concerns: The report concerns M/s Redbird Airways Pvt. Ltd. (operator), the seven deceased occupants (2 pilots, 2 medical personnel, 1 patient, 2 attendants), the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (investigator), and the local administration of Chatra District, Jharkhand.

What the investigators found

• The aircraft (Beechcraft King Air C90A, reg. VT-AJV) crashed near Kasiyatu village, Chatra District, Jharkhand, at approximately 1354 UTC (1924 IST) on February 23, 2026.
• All seven persons on board sustained fatal injuries; the aircraft was destroyed.
• The flight was a non-scheduled Air Ambulance service from Ranchi (VERC) to New Delhi (VIDP).
• The aircraft was not equipped with Flight Data Recorders (CVR/FDR).
• The last VHF communication with ATC Kolkata occurred at 1349 UTC; no further transmissions were received.
• The Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) did not activate.
• The investigation team has collected wreckage, fuel samples, and maintenance records, and is analyzing weather data from the Indian Meteorology Department.
• The report states the objective is accident prevention, not apportioning blame or liability, and that the information is preliminary and subject to change.

Also in the document

• The aircraft was manufactured in 1987 and had a total of 6,613.25 flight hours at the time of the accident.
• Both pilots held valid Commercial Pilot Licenses (CPL) and Class I Medical certificates at the time of the flight.
• The Pilot-in-Command (age 25) had 1,600 total hours and 1,383.39 hours on type; the First Officer (age 31) had 300 total hours and 102.00 hours on type.
• Weather reports from Ranchi Airport between 1300 UTC and 1430 UTC indicated haze, broken clouds, and later thunderstorms with rain.
• The aircraft requested and was approved for a deviation from its assigned route (track 297°) to a heading of 313° due to weather, and later requested and was approved for a right heading of 330°.