A major controversy has erupted in India’s civil aviation sector after seven people lost their lives in a tragic air ambulance crash operated by Redbird Airways in the forests of Jharkhand. Expressing deep sorrow and sharp criticism, Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla has written a detailed letter to Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, raising serious concerns over aviation safety standards.
In his letter, Aujla revealed that the ill-fated Beechcraft C90 was nearly 39 years old and had logged over 6,600 flight hours. He questioned how such an outdated aircraft was permitted to operate as a life-saving air ambulance.
The MP further alleged that the aircraft lacked critical safety equipment, including a Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), commonly referred to as the “black box.” He pointed out that due to outdated regulations of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft was allowed to operate without these mandatory devices, making it extremely difficult to determine the exact cause of the crash.
The air ambulance was reportedly transporting a patient, Sanjay Kumar, from Ranchi to Delhi. According to Aujla, the patient’s family had exhausted their savings and taken substantial loans in hopes of saving his life. The crash not only claimed the patient’s life but also killed a dedicated doctor and two pilots, resulting in seven fatalities.
Calling the incident more than just an accident, Aujla termed it a result of systemic negligence within aviation regulatory bodies. He questioned whether India’s aviation safety framework permits “cheap and outdated” aircraft to operate at the cost of human lives.
The MP has demanded a comprehensive audit of the country’s entire air ambulance fleet within 30 days and urged the Ministry to immediately revise safety norms and present a clear accountability roadmap.
The tragic crash has reignited concerns about aviation safety oversight and the urgent need for stricter compliance standards in India’s growing air transport sector.
