The rescue operation was carried out in coordination with the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS). Upon receiving the order from the COA, the Operations Room of the 21st Flight Group of the 9th Wing immediately scrambled one of its helicopters, which was already engaged in night flying training. The flight crew promptly returned to base, equipped themselves for the specific mission and took off from Grazzanise air base towards Monte Finestra, in the area of Cava de' Tirreni, at an altitude of around 3,000 feet (1,000 metres above sea level) to carry out the recovery and rescue operation.
At the scene, coordinating the rescue operations, was personnel from the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (C.N.S.A.S.), awaiting the Italian Air Force aircraft equipped with Night Vision Goggles (N.V.G.) and therefore capable of carrying out operations even during the night and in adverse weather conditions.
Having reached the scene of the accident, two air rescue specialists and the winch-operable stretcher were immediately lowered from the helicopter to rescue the injured person.
The air rescuers and C.N.S.A.S. personnel, having placed the injured person on the stretcher, began the recovery operation, which was particularly complex and difficult due to both the rugged orography of the terrain and the poor visibility conditions caused by the presence of dense banks of fog. Despite this, the helicopter managed to descend into the gorge of the slope and retrieve the injured person.
At 22:55, the helicopter successfully completed the rescue procedure by landing at the Cava dei Tirreni sports ground, where an ambulance transferred the injured person to the hospital in Nocera Inferiore.
The 9th Wing, using HH-212 helicopters and Air Force Riflemen, carries out personnel Search and Rescue (S.A.R.) operations, both in Italy and as part of international missions, providing air support to surface forces and intervening, in the presence of casualties, with emergency medical evacuation activities.
National S.A.R. operations are conducted under the command of the C.O.A., which coordinates and deploys the Italian Air Force aircraft belonging to the 15th Wing of Cervia, its subordinate S.A.R. Centres, and the S.A.R. Flights deployed across the national territory. Continuous training and the capabilities of the supplied aircraft, as well as the night vision aids used (N.V.G. – Night Vision Goggles), allow the crews to operate and provide rescue both by day and by night, even in adverse weather conditions.
