The mission was conducted by the 82nd SAR (Search And Rescue) Centre of Trapani in synergy with the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps Sicily.

The HH-139B helicopter of the 82nd SAR (Search And Rescue) Centre of the 15th Wing of the Italian Air Force, based in Trapani, took off after 1 PM today, 7 May, to carry out the rescue of an injured foreign tourist in the Cefalù area, province of Palermo.

The crew on standby, having recently received the mission order from the Operations Room of the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) of the Air Operations Command at Poggio Renatico (Ferrara), belonging to the Air Squad Command – 1st Air Region of Milan, first proceeded to Palermo Boccadifalco Airport to collect two Alpine Rescue technicians, before subsequently heading towards the recovery area.

The woman, a 61-year-old Dutch tourist, was hiking with a group of compatriots on the Rocca overlooking the Norman town when she slipped on the path near the Temple of Diana, sustaining a significant injury to her lower limb. Unable to continue on foot, her companions called the emergency services via the single emergency number 112. As the intervention was in difficult terrain, the Sicilian Alpine Rescue was alerted, who, to speed up the rescue of the injured woman, requested the support of the Air Force, with whom there is a well-established national collaboration.

The Aeronautica rescuer and specialists from the Sicilian Alpine and Speleological Rescue (SASS), once on site, were lowered by winch. They stabilised and immobilised the injured woman, then harnessed her and hoisted her aboard. The helicopter then transported her to the Cefalù air rescue landing pad, where a 118 ambulance took charge of her for transfer to the G. Giglio Hospital. Following these operations, which were excellently coordinated between the crew, CNSAS Sicily and RCC of Poggio Renatico with success, the Aeronautica Militare's HH139B returned to Boccadifalco to disembark the two SASS technicians and subsequently to Trapani.

The 15th Wing guarantees, 24 hours a day, every single day of the year, the search and rescue of flight crews in distress, also contributing to public utility activities such as the search for missing persons at sea or in mountains, the urgent medical transport of patients in imminent danger to life, and the rescue of severely traumatised individuals, operating in complex meteorological conditions, both day and night.

From its establishment to the present day, the crews of the 15th Wing have saved thousands of lives, while during the summer they also carry out Forest Firefighting (AIB) activities as part of the assets provided by the Defence for this campaign. In addition to the 82nd SAR Centre of Trapani, the 15th Wing of Cervia also depends on, and is deployed throughout the national territory, the 80th SAR Centre of Decimomannu (Cagliari), the 85th SAR Centre of Pratica di Mare (Rome), the 84th SAR Centre of Gioia del Colle (Bari) and the 83rd SAR Group, located precisely in Cervia (Ravenna).

The Italian Air Force's flight units are capable of transporting patients, organs, medical teams, and ambulances, even in complex weather conditions. Hundreds of flight hours are carried out each year for these types of operations, not only by the helicopters of the 15th Wing of Cervia but also by the aircraft of the 31st Wing of Ciampino, the 14th Wing of Pratica di Mare, and the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa.