The mission was carried out during the night by an HH-139B helicopter of the 85th SAR (Search and Rescue) Centre of Pratica di Mare
It concluded in the very early hours of Saturday, August 3rd Rescue of two hikers trapped in the Maiella area, in Abruzzo, by a crew of the 15th Wing of the’Italian Air Force, stationed in Pratica di Mare.
At the request of National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS), the crew of the’85° SAR Centre (Search and Rescue), on standby with a HH-139B helicopter, had received the operational order during the night from the Operations Room of the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) del Aerospace Operations Command in Poggio Renatico (FE).
The two hikers had become stuck above 2,500 m, in an inaccessible spot on Mount Amaro, in the Maiella National Park, unable to return to the valley due to the darkness, and not equipped to face harsh weather conditions.
Arrived at the scene, by means of night vision goggles NVGNight Vision Goggles), the Italian Air Force crew was able to identify an optimal landing zone, allowing the disembarkation of the’parachutist, who reached the hikers on foot and, after checking their condition, led them to the helicopter. The two men were showing early signs of hypothermia but were conscious, and once brought back down to the valley around 5 in the morning, they were transported to Fara San Martino, where they were taken into the care of an ambulance meanwhile dispatched by the operators of the Chieti-Pescara 118 emergency control room, for a medical evaluation that ended with the two young men returning home independently.
It 15th Wing guarantees, 24 hours a day, every single day of the year, the search and the Rescue of distressed flight crews, while also contributing to activities of public utility such as search and rescue operations at sea or in the mountains, emergency medical transport for patients in imminent danger of life and the rescue of severely traumatised individuals, operating even in complex weather conditions, both by day and by night. Since its establishment to the present day, the crews of the 15th Wing have saved thousands of lives, while in summer they also carry out activities Forest Fire Prevention and Suppression as part of the assets provided by Defence for this campaign. From the 15th Wing of Cervia, beyond the’85° SAR Centre of Pratica di Mare, depend, deployed across the national territory, also the’80° SAR Centre of Decimomannu (Cagliari), the’82° SAR Centre di Trapani,’84° SAR Centre of Gioia del Colle (Bari) and the’83rd SAR Group, located right on Cervia.
The Italian Air Force's flight units are capable of ensuring the transport of patients, organs, medical teams and ambulances. Hundreds of flight hours are carried out every year for these types of operations, not only by the helicopters of the 15th Wing based in Cervia, but also by the aircraft of the 31st Wing of Ciampino, of 14th Practice Wing of Pratica di Mare And of the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa.
