Searches for a sailing boat in the stretch of sea between Sicily and Sardinia continued last weekend despite strong winds.
On the morning of Saturday 25 November, at the request of the 12th Maritime Rescue Sub Centre of Palermo, the COAAerospace Operations Commandof the Air Force has arranged for the intervention of a HH-139B of the’82° SAR Centre (Search and Rescue) in Trapani, for the search of a boat that had been missing since the previous evening.
Having set off from Palermo and heading for Cagliari, the boat, with two women on board, was searched for over three hours, despite the strong wind and prohibitive sea conditions, which made aerial monitoring activities very difficult.
As there had been no success, in the afternoon the COA therefore requested the deployment of a helicopter. HH-139A of the’80° SAR Centre in Decimomannu, Sardinia, to continue the patrol in search of the boat, for another three hours and still in adverse weather conditions, this time also without success.
On the very early morning of Sunday the 26th, it was still the’HH-139B to continue the searches after taking off from Trapani, which were interrupted after a short time by the good news that the two sailors, safe and sound, had independently contacted the competent authorities.
It 15th Wing The Italian Air Force guarantees, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, continuous search and rescue for 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 The 15th Wing has saved more than 7800 lives in peril.. Since 2018, the Department has acquired Wildfire Fighting (AIB) capability, contributing to the prevention and combating of fires throughout the national territory as part of the joint inter-force system deployed by the Defence.
