In the late evening of yesterday, 4th February 2026, an HH-139B helicopter from the 85th SAR (Search and Rescue) Centre of the Italian Air Force, based at the Pratica di Mare (Rome) military airport, intervened to recover a man on the island of Ischia who was in imminent danger of life and required urgent hospitalisation.
The crew, having received the take-off clearance from the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) of the Poggio Renatico Aerospace Operations Command (FE), at the request of the Prefecture-UTG of Naples, took off at 20:35 to head towards the island in Campania where they embarked both the man and a doctor and a nurse for assistance during the flight to the Santa Maria delle Grazie hospital in Pozzuoli (NA).
Upon arrival at the hospital, the patient was disembarked and handed over to the care of the hospital medical staff. The helicopter then proceeded back to Ischia to disembark the medical team, and subsequently returned to the Pratica di Mare airbase, resuming regular national SAR readiness.
From its formation to the present day, the crews of the 15th Wing have saved thousands of people in life-threatening danger. The Wing guarantees, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the search and rescue of flight crews in difficulty, 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 injured individuals, operating even in complex weather conditions. Since 2018, the Department has also acquired AIB (Wildfire Fighting) capability, contributing to the prevention and fight against fires throughout the national territory within the framework of the joint forces deployed by the Defence.
From the 15th Wing in Cervia, in addition to the 85th SAR Centre in Pratica di Mare (Rome), the following are also stationed throughout the national territory: the 80th SAR Centre in Decimomannu (Cagliari), the 82nd SAR Centre in Trapani, the 83rd SAR Flight Group, located in Cervia, and the 84th SAR Centre in Gioia del Colle (Bari).
