The small patients, needing to reach the “Gaslini” in Genoa as quickly as possible, traveled on a Gulfstream G650 of the 31st Squadron

Two emergency medical transports of patients in immediate danger of life ended today evening, the first from Calabria and the second from Sardinia, both destined for the “Gaslini” hospital in Genoa.

The flights, as provided for by the procedures for this type of activity, were authorized by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, which manages and coordinates the activities of the state aircraft fleet.

The activation of the first medical transport occurred at the request of the Prefectural Authority of Catanzaro to the Situation Room of the Air Force Command of Milan, which immediately involved the 31st Squadron at Ciampino, one of the units that provides operational readiness for this type of mission.

After carrying out all the necessary procedures by the military crew, the G650 took off from the Lamezia Terme airport (CZ) this afternoon, on October 5, 2026, where a 13-year-old child from the “Pugliese” Hospital in Catanzaro was immediately boarded along with the medical team. After landing at the Genoa airport, which took place shortly after 15:30 today, an ambulance transported him to the “Gaslini” hospital for further treatment.

Subsequently, upon receiving a second activation, this time at the request of the Sassari Prefecture, the Air Force aircraft took off from Genoa towards the Alghero (SS) airport, where a newborn from the Sassari University Hospital was immediately boarded along with the medical team. The G650 then returned to the Genoa airport where it landed at approximately 18:30 and an ambulance transported the little patient to the final destination of the ’Gaslini“ hospital.

This type of activity for the benefit of the community 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 urgent transport not only of people in imminent danger of death, but also of organs, medical teams or ambulances.

Every year, hundreds of flight hours are carried out for these types of operations by aircraft from the 31st Wing of Ciampino, the 14th Wing of Pratica di Mare, the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa, and helicopters from the 15th Wing of Cervia.