The flight from Alghero to Rome was necessary to transport a very small patient in imminent danger of death.

The life-saving flight, involving an Air Force Falcon 900, concluded shortly before 8:00 PM today. The emergency medical transport, from Alghero to Ciampino, allowed a very young patient, just 1 day old, to reach the Bambino Gesù Paediatric Hospital in Rome.

The patient was embarked – inside a thermal cot – onto the Air Force aircraft belonging to the 31st Wing and accompanied by their father and a medical team who provided care during the flight. The request for transport from the University Hospital of Sassari to the Bambino Gesù Paediatric Hospital in Rome, as per urgent procedures, was received from the Prefecture of Sassari. Upon landing at Ciampino, the child continued their journey to the Roman hospital aboard an ambulance, while the Air Force aircraft resumed its operational readiness service.

As happens on similar occasions, the request was managed and coordinated by the Summit Situations Room of the Air Squad Command, the operations room of the Air Force which, among its functions, also includes ordering and managing these types of missions for the benefit of citizens.

Crews and transport aircraft of the Italian Air Force are ready day and night, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day to ensure, where requested and deemed necessary for reasons of urgency, the medical transport of people in imminent danger of death, organ transport or medical teams.

Hundreds of flight hours are carried out each year for this type of operation by aircraft from the 31st Wing of Ciampino, the 14th Wing of Pratica di Mare and the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa, and by helicopters from the 15th Wing of Cervia.