Press release no. 41/2022 Defence: intense weekend for the Air Force crews A weekend of intense operational activity for the Air Force crews. Transport, air rescue and air defence aircraft were engaged. On the morning of Saturday 24 September, a KC767A from the 14th Wing took off from Pratica di Mare military airport bound for Pakistan, specifically Karachi, to transport approximately 16 tonnes of material (medicines, clothing and technical equipment including inflatable tents and water pumps) which can be used to help the local population severely affected by the recent floods. This particular humanitarian mission was managed and organised by the Joint Operations Command of the Defence Staff in close coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – International Cooperation. Today, Sunday 25 September, was instead characterised by two missions involving air rescue and air defence standby crews. An HH-139A helicopter from the 84th Combat Search & Rescue (C/SAR) Centre of the 15th Wing It took off this morning from the military airport at Gioia del Colle (BA), after being deployed by the Rescue Coordination Centre of the Aerospace Operations Command, heading for Castelsaraceno, a mountain resort in the province of Potenza, to rescue two young hikers who had become stranded on a rock face following a deterioration in weather conditions. The military crew, working in close coordination with the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS), waited for visibility – which had been severely affected by the adverse weather conditions – to improve somewhat before heading to the operation area to rescue the two hikers using a winch. Despite the particularly rugged terrain and the challenging visibility conditions, the military crew, working in close synergy with CNSAS technicians, successfully completed the mission, bringing the two young people to safety, where they were then handed over to the medical staff who had arrived at the location in Basilicata. Finally, late in the morning, two Eurofighter fighter aircraft took off rapidly on alert (known in technical jargon as a “scramble”) from Istrana (TV) military airbase, home to the 51st Wing, following activation by the Combined Air Operations Centre in Torrejón to intercept a Dutch PC12 aircraft that had taken off from Budel Airport (Netherlands) and was heading for Rome-Ciampino, having lost radio contact with air traffic control. The two interceptor fighters, piloted by ’Guida Caccia’ personnel from the 11th DAMI Group (Integrated Missile Air Defence) of the Aerospace Operations Command, rapidly caught up with the Dutch civilian aircraft; following the support provided by the two military fighter jets, the aircraft re-established contact with civilian air traffic control authorities and continued on its route to the capital. Operational activities such as those carried out this weekend demonstrate the readiness of the flight crews and all Italian Air Force personnel, who serve the country 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This expertise and professionalism are made possible by the continuous training of its personnel. Download photos of the Eurofighter interception by the 51st Wing: https://we.tl/t-AOX1eNkBDE Download photos and videos of Aerial Rescue in Castelsaraceno: https://we.tl/t-cuwBccIhtd Download photos and videos of transport in Pakistan: https://we.tl/t-le2GAgGc9q