The little girl, who tested positive for the virus and was in mortal danger due to severe respiratory problems, travelled inside an ambulance loaded directly onto the aircraft of the 46th Air Brigade of the Italian Air Force.
Yesterday at around 11:10 PM, the urgent medical transport of a 9-year-old girl from Elmas (Cagliari) to Fiumicino (Rome) was completed, carried out by an Italian Air Force C130J aircraft.
The young patient, who tested positive for Covid and was in imminent danger of death due to severe respiratory failure, needed to be urgently transferred to the “Bambino Gesù” Paediatric Hospital in Palidoro, Fiumicino (RM).
Specifically, the use of a C-130J from the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa was necessary, suitable for boarding the ambulance in which the child travelled, monitored and assisted with breathing, along with a medical team and a parent.
The life-saving flight was activated, at the request of the Prefecture of Cagliari, by the Summit Situations Room of the Air Force's Air Squad Command, which immediately involved the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa, one of the Units that carries out operational readiness service for this type of mission.
All necessary procedures were carried out by the military crew, and the aircraft took off from Pisa airport heading for Elmas airport (CA) where the young patient, on board an ambulance, was immediately embarked on the aircraft for urgent transport. After landing at Fiumicino Airport, the ambulance proceeded to the “Bambino Gesù” Paediatric Hospital in Palidoro (Fiumicino) to receive the necessary care.
Crews and transport aircraft of the Air Force are ready every single day of the year, 24 hours a day, to ensure, where required and deemed necessary for reasons of urgency, the medical transport of people in imminent danger of death, or of organs or medical teams. Hundreds of flight hours are carried out each year for these types of interventions, in support of citizens, by the aircraft of the 31st Wing of Ciampino, the 14th Wing of Pratica di Mare and the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa. In the latter case, the C130J aircraft, thanks to their size, are capable of transporting an ambulance internally, when required.
Where there are particular operational needs, the Air Force also employs helicopters from the 15th Wing of Cervia.
