MUMBAI, India, Feb 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Seven people were killed when a chartered air ambulance crashed in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, officials said Tuesday.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the Beechcraft C90 operating a "medical evacuation (Air Ambulance) flight" crashed Monday in the Kasaria area of the eastern state of Jharkahand.

Rescue and medical teams rushed to the site of the crash, which local media said was deep inside a difficult-to-access forest.

"The team of doctors found them, and declared them dead," local administrative official Keerthishree G told reporters, adding that two of the seven people killed were crew members.

The DGCA said late Monday night that the aircraft, operated by Redbird Airways, had "requested for deviation due to weather" and lost contact with air traffic radar after 23 minutes.

India's aircraft accident investigation bureau had also been sent to the site.

In January, a state leader from the western Maharashtra state and four others were killed when their chartered aircraft crashed while landing at the city of Baramati.