Neelam Mathews

India's aviation sector sustained two serious accidents within a 24-hour period this week. On Monday, a Redbird Airways’ Beechcraft King Air C90 air ambulance (VT‑AJV) crashed in Jharkhand, killing all seven on board,. The next day, a state‑owned Pawan Hans Dauphin ditched about 900 feet short of the Mayabunder helipad in the Andamans; all seven inter‑island passengers survived.
The back‑to‑back events have sharpened scrutiny on operational standards, weather decisions, and technical reliability across India’s smaller commercial and medevac fleets. In an online meeting, India Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Faiz Ahmed Kidwai warned nonscheduled operator permit &nbsp;charter and air‑taxi operators that run on-demand flights to tighten compliance or risk losing permits.
India Business Aircraft Operators Association R.K. Bali told members, “As business aviation operators connecting many uncontrolled airfields with limited weather and advisory support, we must ensure safety is never compromised…As the pre-monsoon season approaches, I urge you to conduct internal safety audits and reinforce strict crew briefings.”
The Redbird air ambulance twin turboprop had been airborne barely 20 minutes on the Ranchi–Delhi leg when the crew requested a weather deviation from Kolkata ATC, then lost radar and radio contact before crashing into terrain. The aircraft was not required to have cockpit voice and flight data recorders.
There were few details about the Pawan Hans helicopter crash at press time. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and DGCA have opened a full probe into both accidents.

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

Back-to-back Crashes Put India Air Charter under Scrutiny

King Air crash kills seven while all seven survive a helicopter landing mishap

Back‑to‑back aircraft accidents in India have sharpened scrutiny on air charter operational standards, weather decisions, and technical reliability.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

DCA midair collision underscores urgent need for action

FSF Report Warns of Rising Mixed-use Airspace Risk

Matt Thurber

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Cenipa report examined camera images from helicopter and hangar feed

Mx Process ID’d as Possible Issue in H160 Ditching

Crew noted anomalies before and after departure, investigation ongoing

NTSB: Citation II Right-seat Pilot Not SIC-qualified

David Jack Kenny

Preliminary and final accident reports, February 2026

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: February 2026

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

More In Accidents

FSF Report Warns of Rising Mixed-use Airspace Risk

DCA midair collision underscores urgent need for action

Mx Process ID’d as Possible Issue in H160 Ditching

Cenipa report examined camera images from helicopter and hangar feed

NTSB: Citation II Right-seat Pilot Not SIC-qualified

Crew noted anomalies before and after departure, investigation ongoing

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: February 2026

Preliminary and final accident reports, February 2026

NTSB Probable Cause Cites FAA Lapses in DCA Collision

Hearing resulted in 50 recommendations to the FAA, U.S. Army, and other agencies

CL650 Accident Investigation Continues at Bangor Airport

The airport has been closed since Sunday night

Fatal Challenger 650 Crash in Maine Claims Six

The accident occurred in freezing, snowy conditions

Business Aviation Safety Suffers Worst Year since 2011

143 people were killed in 35 business aircraft accidents last year

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN