Kolkata, February 24 The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal on Tuesday called for a "thorough and transparent investigation" into a crash of an air ambulance in neighboring Jharkhand, which resulted in the death of all seven people on board.
The Beechcraft C90 air ambulance, operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, was en route from Ranchi to Delhi when it crashed on Monday evening in the Bariatu Panchayat area of Jharkhand's Chatra district, officials said.
"The tragic crash of an air ambulance in Chatra district, Jharkhand, which claimed the lives of all seven people on board, is a matter of profound sorrow. We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and stand in solidarity with them during this time of grief," the TMC said in a post on X.
"We urge the authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to determine the precise cause of the crash, and to ensure that robust safeguards are put in place to prevent such tragedies in the future," it said.
The aircraft took off from Ranchi airport at 7:11 pm and went missing around 7:30 pm. It lost contact with air traffic control about 20 minutes after departure.
Ranchi airport director Vinod Kumar said inclement weather could be a possible reason for the crash, although the exact cause would be ascertained after a detailed probe.
