'All pilots should have received warning': New details emerge in Jharkhand air ambulance crash probe; no Mayday call sent
Times of India
by SUBHRO NIYOGIFebruary 24, 2026
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An air ambulance carrying critical patients crashed shortly after takeoff from Ranchi airport in Jharkhand, India, without sending a distress call. The incident occurred 23 minutes after the turbopropeller Beechcraft aircraft lost radar contact near the Atali point, where control was to be handed over from Kolkata ATC to Varanasi ATC. Despite receiving weather warnings earlier that day, including alerts for heavy rain and thunderstorms, the crew did not contact ground meteorological officials before departure. The pilot had requested a deviation due to inclement weather but continued climbing without further communication.
The aircraft, a Beechcraft King Air C90A, vanished from radar at 7:34 pm while en route to Delhi. aviation experts suggest that a lightning strike may have disabled the transponder or disrupted electrical systems, potentially contributing to the crash. Additionally, the plane's low altitude could have interfered with its VHF communication system, making it difficult for air traffic controllers to establish contact after radar loss.
Weather officials confirmed that warnings were issued twice on the day of the crash: once in the morning and again at 5:10 pm. The latter warning included a "Nowcast" for light thunderstorms in northwestern Jharkhand. Pilots are typically advised to avoid cumulonimbus clouds, which can cause severe turbulence, icing, and
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/24/2026