Italian Air Force: Child in life-threatening condition transported from Catania to Lecco
The urgent medical flight, requested by the Prefecture of Catania, was carried out with a Falcon 900 from the 31st Wing.
One bimbo for two years, admitted to Garibaldi Hospital in Catania and in need of urgent specialist care, he was rushed this afternoon to Bergamo Orio al Serio airport aboard a Falcon 900 of the Air Force, for subsequent admission to The Medea hospital in Bosisio Parini, in the province of Lecco.
For the air ambulance flight, requested by Catania Prefecture, a crew and an aircraft were deployed from the 31st Wing of Ciampino, one of the Air Force's flying departments that ensures aircraft and crews are ready to take off at short notice for these types of missions, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The urgent flight, requested by Catania Prefecture, it was immediately arranged and coordinated by Summit Situation Room of the Air Force Command, the Operations Room of the Italian Air Force, which, among its duties, is also tasked with activating and managing urgent medical transports, ordering the take-off of the aircraft that the Armed Force keeps on standby, 24 hours a day, at various bases, for this kind of necessity.
Crews and transport aircraft of the Air Force are operational every single day of the year, 24 hours a day, to ensure, where required and deemed necessary due to urgency, the medical transport of individuals in imminent danger of death, organs or medical teams, or as in this case, individuals needing to be transferred to specialised treatment centres within the national territory. Hundreds of flight hours are carried out every year for this type of intervention, in support of citizens, by aircraft from the 31st Wing of Ciampino, the 14th Wing of Pratica di Mare, and the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa. Where there are specific operational needs, the Air Force also employs helicopters from the 15th Wing of Cervia.
Public Information Office – Rome