The mission was requested by the 13th MRSC (Maritime Rescue Sub Centre) of Cagliari for the urgent transport of the man to the Brotzu hospital.

 Nella notte, un elicottero HH-139B dell’80° Centro SAR (Search and Rescue – Ricerca e Soccorso) dell’Aeronautica Militare, di base sull’aeroporto militare di Decimomannu (CA), è intervenuto per recuperare dalla nave cargo “MERNA1”, sei miglia a largo del porto di Arbatax, un uomo di 29 anni ferito.

Upon the request of the 13th MRSC (Maritime Rescue Sub Centre) in Cagliari, the Rescue Coordination Centre del Comando Operazioni Aerospaziali di Poggio Renatico (FE) ha disposto il decollo dell’elicottero dell’80° Centro SAR, uno degli assetti ad ala rotante del 15° Stormo in prontezza per attività di Search and Rescue national and appropriate to the type of emergency.

The crew – a specialised team consisting of pilots, a winch operator and a mountain rescuer – took off from the military base in Decimomannu and reached the cargo ship. After the mountain rescuer and a stretcher were lowered onto the deck, the injured person was recovered by the winch operator inside the helicopter, to then be transferred as quickly as possible to the Brotzu hospital in Cagliari for necessary treatment.

The 15th Wing of the Air Force guarantees, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, without interruption, the search and rescue of flight crews in distress, 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 traumatised individuals, operating even in extreme weather conditions.

From its establishment to the present day, the crews of the 15th Wing have saved more than 7,500 lives in peril. Since 2018, the Department has acquired AIB (Wildfire Fighting) capability, contributing to the prevention and fighting of fires throughout the national territory within the framework of the joint task force deployed by the Defence.