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Jharkhand Air Ambulance Crash: Plane Did Not Have a Black Box, Here's Why
The air ambulance crashed killing seven; it lacked black boxes due to exemption for aircraft under 5,700 kg, complicating investigation of crash causes.
- On February 23, 2026, the Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd Beechcraft C90 crashed in Kasariya Panchayat, Simaria block, killing seven people onboard during a medical evacuation flight from Ranchi to Delhi.
- Because VT-AJV's maximum take-off weight was below 5,700 kg, civil aviation rules do not require cockpit voice or flight data recorders, sources quoted by ANI said.
- The aircraft departed Ranchi at 19:11 IST and lost radar and communication contact near 100 NM south‑east of Varanasi, while locals and eyewitness Pawan Yadav reported it losing balance before a loud boom amid light rain.
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation reached the site yesterday and AAIB investigators have recovered key wreckage for further analysis.
- With no black box on board, sources said the crash prompted a civil aviation watchdog probe and led DGCA to announce stricter safety measures, as rules do not mandate recorders below 5,700 kg.
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The Economic Times
Jharkhand air ambulance crash: No black box in Beechcraft C90, AAIB begins investigation
The Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd Beechcraft C90 (VT-AJV) that crashed had no black boxes as the aircraft's maximum takeoff weight is below 5,700 kg, sources said.
·India
Read Full ArticleNo black box on Jharkhand air ambulance that crashed makes probe complicated
Jharkhand air ambulance crash: The aircraft had departed Ranchi around 7:11 pm for Delhi and lost communication and radar contact roughly 23 minutes after take-off, after requesting a weather deviation. The wreckage was later found in a forested area near Simaria in Chatra district.
·India
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left1Leaning Right4Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution66% Right
Bias Distribution
- 66% of the sources lean Right
66% Right
L 17%
C 17%
R 66%
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