Tonight, an HH-139B helicopter from the 85th SAR Centre (Search and Rescue – Search and Rescue) of the Air Force, based at the Pratica di Mare (Rome) military airport, intervened on the island of Ventotene to rescue a man, in imminent danger of death, who required urgent hospitalisation.
The crew, having received the take-off order from the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) of the Poggio Renatico Aerospace Operations Command (FE), at the request of the Prefecture of Latina, took off from Pratica di Mare to head first to Latina airport where they embarked the medical team, before proceeding to the island of Ventotene for patient recovery.
The man was then transported to Latina Airport where, after disembarking with the medical team, he continued by ambulance to the destination hospital for admission. The helicopter then returned to the Pratica di Mare air base, resuming regular national SAR readiness.
From its formation to the present day, the crews of the 15th Wing have saved thousands of people in life-threatening danger. The Wing guarantees, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the search and rescue of flight crews in difficulty, also contributing to public utility activities such as the search for missing persons at sea or in mountains, the emergency medical transport of patients in imminent danger of life, and the rescue of severely injured individuals, operating even in complex weather conditions. Since 2018, the Department has also acquired AIB (Wildfire Fighting) capability, contributing to the prevention and fight against fires throughout the national territory within the framework of the joint forces deployed by the Defence.
From Cervia's 15th Wing, in addition to the 85th SAR Centre in Pratica di Mare (Rome), the following are also located throughout the national territory: the 80th SAR Centre in Decimomannu (Cagliari), the 82nd SAR Centre in Trapani, the 83rd SAR Flight Group, based in Cervia, and the 84th SAR Centre in Gioia del Colle (Bari).
This type of community support activity is one of the institutional tasks carried out by the Italian Air Force. Flight units 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 of not only people in imminent danger of death, but also organs, medical teams or ambulances. Every year, hundreds of flight hours are carried out for these types of interventions by the aircraft of the 31st Wing of Ciampino, the 14th Wing of Pratica di Mare, the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa and the helicopters of the 15th Wing of Cervia.
