Simulated the intervention for the hijacking of a train and the subsequent helicopter SAR evacuation of an injured person
Over the last few days two helicopters e relative crews of the’Italian Air Force they took part in a complex training activity of the network ATLAS, international network consisting of 38 special intervention force groups, organised by the Central Operational Security Unit – N.O.C.S. of the State Police.
The exercise included the’night call-out del N.O.C.S. on a state railway high-speed train which, after departing from Milan Central Station, reported an emergency due to a terrorist threat on board.
Following the scenario analysis, from the National Command and Control Operations Room of Ferrovie dello Stato in Rome, where in the meantime the heads of the special forces Operational Teams, Ferrovie dello Stato officials and Italian Air Force liaison officers had gathered, the type of intervention was defined and the deployment of the NOCS ordered for the neutralisation of the threat.
Two Italian Air Force helicopters – a HH139B del 15th Wing an HH101A del 9th Wing – were immediately scrambled to converge, respectively from Pratica di Mare and Grazzanise, on a rendezvous point to embark the NOCS operators, before heading towards the designated location for the raid on the train, which in this specific case took place near Anagni railway station.
It State Police NOCS he reached Anagni with two Italian Air Force helicopters: a SAR HH139 (search and rescue by air) and an HH-101 used for special operations support.
These Italian Air Force assets and crews, specialised in search and rescue activities and support for special operations, are trained and qualified to operate in complex operational and environmental contexts, thanks to unique capabilities at the national level such as the qualification for night operations using special NVG goggles, which are fundamental in activities carried out completely at night like this one, and the ability to operate at long distances from the parent base and for prolonged periods through in-flight refuelling.
The exercise, which was also attended by operators from other special units of the ATLAS network, concluded late at night with the decisive intervention of the NOCS on board the train.
An activity was also simulated on that occasion, medical evacuation of a person who was injured during the procedure, carried out with an’HH-139 of the 85th SAR Centre of the 15th Wing, specialist units of the Armed Forces in this type of mission, carried out daily also in favour of the community.
The exercise, made possible thanks to the assets and personnel provided by the FS Italiane Group without any impact on train traffic, featured an’aim of testing the effectiveness and speed of activation of procedures for the safe management of this type of emergency and to always maintain high levels of staff training and preparedness, of coordination with other police forces and the Defence sector, and with public and private entities.
It 9th Wing, with its HH-101 flight assets, carries out support operations for Special Operations as well as the search and recovery of isolated personnel in hostile territory (so-called Personnel Recovery operations), providing air support to special forces and intervening, in the presence of any wounded, with emergency medical evacuation activities. The 9th Wing reports directly to the 1st Special Operations Air Brigade, which in turn reports to the Air Fleet Command – 1st Air Region based in Milan.
It 15th Wing The Italian 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 death, and the rescue of seriously traumatised individuals, operating even in extreme weather conditions.
From its establishment to the present day, the crews of 15th Wing They have rescued more than 7,500 people whose lives were in danger. Since 2018, the Unit has acquired AIB (Forest Firefighting) capabilities, contributing to the prevention and fighting of fires throughout the national territory as part of the inter-agency mechanism deployed by Defence.
