The same aircraft from the 31st Wing of the Italian Air Force carried out the first transport from Catania to Genoa and the second from Cagliari to Rome of two newborn babies, who were in imminent danger of death.

The urgent medical transports of two newborn babies concluded yesterday evening, 14 October 2025. The first was on the Catania-Genoa route and the second on the Cagliari-Rome route, carried out by an Air Force G650 aircraft.

The first young patient, suffering from a serious illness and in imminent danger of death, needed to be urgently transferred from the “Garibaldi” Hospital in Catania to the “Gaslini” in Genoa, while the second, also suffering from a serious illness, from the “Duilio Casula” Hospital in Monserrato in the province of Cagliari to the “Bambino Gesù” in Rome.

More specifically, the two newborn babies, on both flights, travelled within the aircraft constantly monitored and assisted by medical teams and in the company of their parents.

Activities of this kind, for the benefit of citizens, are among the institutional tasks carried out by the Air Force. The two life-saving flights were activated, at the request of the Prefectures of Catania and Cagliari respectively, by the Air Force's Summit Situations Room, dependent on the Air Squad Command in Milan, which immediately involved the 31st Wing, one of the Units that carries out operational readiness service for this type of mission.

The flights, as is the case for this type of activity, were authorised by the Prime Minister's Office, which manages and coordinates the activities of the State aircraft fleet.

All necessary procedures for take-off were carried out, and the aircraft took flight from Rome airport, landing in Genoa in the early afternoon yesterday to embark the medical team and reach Catania. Here, the young patient was embarked on the G650 for urgent transport back to Genoa airport, where an ambulance awaited her for subsequent admission to the Ligurian healthcare facility.

The same aircraft then proceeded to Cagliari, where the second patient was embarked to reach the final destination of Rome late in the evening. From there, she was transported by ambulance to the “Bambino Gesù” hospital.

The Italian Air Force's flight departments are available to the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with aircraft and crews capable of operating, even in complex weather conditions, to ensure the urgent transport not only of individuals in imminent danger of life, but also of organs, medical teams, or ambulances.

Hundreds of flight hours are carried out each year for this type of operation by aircraft from the 31st Wing of Ciampino, the 14th Wing of Pratica di Mare, the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa, and by helicopters from the 15th Wing of Cervia.