In the last few hours, the crews of 15th Wing of the Air Force they were involved in two complex rescue operations, confirming the Armed Force's ability to operate with promptness and precision even in challenging environmental contexts and in conditions of darkness.
The first intervention featured a helicopter on the evening of Saturday, 21 February HH-139B of the 85th SAR Centre from Pratica di Mare. The crew took off urgently to reach the massif of The Maiella, in Abruzzo, where four young hikers had become stranded at around 2000 metres altitude on Monte Amaro.
Due to prohibitive temperatures and the onset of hypothermia symptoms, rescue was deemed essential for safeguarding human lives. Despite the difficulties posed by the steep terrain and the darkness, the youngsters were recovered and immediately transported to the’Chieti Hospital for the necessary treatment. The operation concluded around 10:30 PM, with the subsequent redeployment of the aircraft to Pescara for technical refuelling before returning to its home base in Pratica di Mare.
After a few hours, on Sunday evening, the’83rd SAR Group of Cervia intervened in the vicinity of Modigliana (FC) to rescue an injured man in a particularly steep area. The HH-139 helicopter reached the area shortly after 9:30 PM.
On site, the Air Force rescuer was winched down to collaborate with the technicians of the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS) Emilia-Romagna, who had already stabilised the injured man. The man was recovered aboard via a winch stretcher and transported to the drop-off point in Modigliana, where he was handed over to the 118 air ambulance for transfer to’Cesena Hospital.
Both missions were coordinated by Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) from the Air Operations Command of Poggio Renatico (FE), the nerve centre of the Armed Force for the management of air search and rescue activities in Italy.
The 15th Wing guarantees the search and rescue of flight crews in difficulty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It also contributes to public utility activities such as searching for missing persons, emergency medical transport, and the rescue of seriously injured individuals. Since its establishment to the present day, the crews of the 15th Wing have saved thousands of people in mortal danger. Furthermore, since 2018, the Department has acquired the Wildfire Fighting (AIB) capability, contributing to the prevention and fighting of fires across the entire national territory as part of the joint interforce system deployed by Defence.
Both of last weekend's missions highlight the importance of’constant training And of the synergy between the Air Force and other civil rescue organisations, such as the CNSAS, enabling successful operations even in the most critical weather and environmental conditions.
Dal 15th Air Wing of Cervia, in addition to the’85th SAR Centre Pratica di Mare and and’83rd SAR Group, located right on Cervia, also depend, dispersed throughout the rest of the national territory, the’80° SAR Centre, Decimomannu (Cagliari), the’82° Trapani SAR Centre and the’84° SAR Centre Gioia del Colle Bari.
