No black box in air ambulance crash in Jharkhand, AAIB team investigates the site

Wed Feb 25 10:18:02 UTC 2026: # Jharkhand Air Ambulance Crash Claims Seven Lives; Lack of Black Box Raises Concerns

The Story:
A Redbird Airways Pvt. Ltd. Beechcraft C90 air ambulance crashed in Jharkhand on February 23, 2026, killing all seven people onboard. The aircraft, registered VT-AJV, was en route from Ranchi to Delhi for a medical evacuation when it crashed in Kasariya Panchayat, Simaria block. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating the crash, but the absence of black boxes (cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder) is a concern as the aircraft’s maximum take-off weight was below 5,700 kg, exempting it from the mandatory requirement.

Key Points:

• The air ambulance crash occurred on February 23, 2026, in Jharkhand’s Chatra district.
• All seven people onboard the Redbird Airways Pvt. Ltd. Beechcraft C90 (VT-AJV) died.
• The aircraft was operating a medical evacuation flight from Ranchi to Delhi.
• The aircraft did not have black boxes because its maximum take-off weight was below 5,700 kg, as per civil aviation rules.
• The AAIB and DGCA are investigating the crash site.
• Locals reported that the aircraft appeared to be losing balance before the crash.
• The aircraft lost communication and radar contact approximately 100 NM South-East of Varanasi.

Key Takeaways:

• The absence of black boxes will make the investigation into the cause of the crash more challenging.
• Current regulations exempting smaller aircraft from mandatory black box installation may need re-evaluation to improve aviation safety.
• Local witness accounts suggest potential mechanical or control issues before the crash.

Impact Analysis:

The crash will likely lead to increased scrutiny of safety regulations for smaller aircraft used in air ambulance services. The investigation’s findings could potentially result in revised regulations mandating black box installation in a broader range of aircraft, regardless of weight, to enhance accident investigation capabilities and improve aviation safety standards.

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