Jharkhand Air Ambulance Crash: Family Took ₹8 Lakh Loan

A Ranchi to Delhi air ambulance crashed in Jharkhand’s Chatra, killing 7. Reports say the patient’s family borrowed ₹7 lakh to ₹8 lakh.

A Beechcraft C90 air ambulance (VT-AJV) operating a medical evacuation flight from Ranchi to Delhi crashed in Jharkhand’s Chatra district, leaving no survivors. 

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed 7 people were on board, including 2 crew members, and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been tasked to investigate. 

The incident has drawn attention to the steep cost of emergency air transfers, with reports stating the patient’s family arranged funds through borrowing, bringing focus back on medical emergency loan needs and how families manage sudden healthcare shocks.

The Costly Rescue Plan That Ended In A Crash

The flight was arranged for a burn patient identified in news reports as Sanjay Kumar, aged 41, who was being shifted for higher treatment in Delhi. The borrowing figure varies across outlets, but the financial strain remains consistent, and mirrors how families often rely on personal loans for medical expenses when urgent care costs spike.
 

India Today reported on Feb 24, 2026, that the family took a loan of about ₹8 lakh from relatives and well-wishers to book the air ambulance. 

Times of India, in a separate report on Feb 24, 2026, said the aircraft cost was around ₹8 lakh, but the family took a loan of nearly ₹2 lakh and arranged the remaining amount through savings and relatives. NDTV reported the family borrowed ₹7 lakh for the air ambulance.

For families facing sudden hospitalisation costs, LoansJagat offers a dedicated option to explore a personal loan for medical emergencies with eligibility and document guidance in one place.

Below is the official flight timeline that investigators are likely to anchor the probe around.
 

The crash occurred in a forested area and officials cited bad weather and turbulence as a possible factor, while confirming all 7 deaths. 

What Happened Earlier: The Patient’s Injury And The Run-Up
 

The Indian Express reported on Feb 24, 2026, that the patient had suffered 65% burn injuries on Feb 16, 2026, and the family arranged the air ambulance to shift him for better treatment. 

On the evening of Feb 23, 2026, the aircraft took off from Ranchi. DGCA’s statement said the flight requested a weather deviation and then lost communication and radar contact minutes later. DD News also published an account on Feb 24, 2026, repeating the DGCA details and the crash location in Chatra district.

For borrowers, moments like this also bring practical search-intent queries to the surface, such as instant loan online, loan eligibility for medical emergencies, and personal loan documents required, because funding decisions are made under pressure, not planning cycles.

Several outlets identified the victims, including the patient, attendants, medical staff and the 2 pilots.
 

These details will still be subject to official confirmation as the AAIB investigation progresses.

What Stakeholders Are Saying?

DGCA’s statement, published by PIB on Feb 23, 2026, said the aircraft requested a deviation due to weather and later lost radar and communication, and AAIB was tasked to investigate.

AP quoted senior local official Keerthishree G on Feb 24, 2026, confirming all 7 deaths and that bodies were sent for postmortem.

A family member told TOI on Feb 24, 2026, that they arranged funds hoping for Delhi treatment, but lost 3 lives from the household. LoansJagat reported on 27 Jan 2026 that 11% Indians borrow personal loans for medical emergencies, with Tier 1 cities highest at 14%.

Conclusion

The crash has left a family’s loan-funded medical rescue plan in ruins and raised hard questions around safety in adverse weather. The AAIB probe is now the key to answers.