The crash of a Redbird Airways aircraft in Jharkhand's Chatra district has revealed critical omissions in safety equipment, as the plane was found to lack both a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), usually considered vital for investigating aviation accidents. These devices are designed to capture and store flight data and cockpit conversations, providing essential information in the event of a crash. The absence of these devices means that investigators will have limited resources to understand the factors leading to the accident and how it could have been prevented.

In the context of regulations, there are specific requirements that state that aircraft exceeding 5,700 kilograms of maximum take-off weight must have a CVR installed, provided their airworthiness certificate was issued after January 1, 1987. Similarly, an FDR is mandated for multi-engine turbine aircraft weighing 5,700 kilograms or less, which received their certification post-January 1, 1990. The aircraft involved in the incident, a Beechcraft C90, had a registered maximum take-off weight of 4,583 kilograms and was manufactured in 1987, thus it did not meet the criteria set for the installation of these recording devices.

The implications of this accident extend beyond just the immediate event; they highlight systemic issues regarding aviation safety and regulatory compliance in India. The failure to equip the aircraft with necessary safety recording devices calls for a review of existing regulations and enforcement mechanisms in the aviation sector. It raises questions about the oversight of air travel operations, especially for smaller carriers, and the need for definitive steps to improve safety practices to prevent future accidents.