The rescue carried out by an HH-139B helicopter of the 84th SAR (Search and Rescue) Center of the 15th Wing of the Air Force in favor of a 70-year-old woman with serious heart problems ended a few minutes ago who was on board a Maltese cruise ship off the coast of Bari.
The SAR crew in alert readiness was activated by the Rescue Coordination Center of the Aerospace Operations Command of Poggio Renatico (FE), the Air Force department that coordinates and manages all these types of rescue missions, which had received the request intervention by the Coast Guard - Port Authority of Bari.
The military helicopter took off from the military airport of Gioia del Colle (BA) and reached the Maltese vessel which was approximately 15 miles from the coast of Bari. Once on site, an air rescuer was lowered from the HH-139B helicopter using the winch with a special air-transportable stretcher on which the patient was subsequently secured thanks also to the assistance of the on-board doctor. After securing the woman, the military crew recovered the stretcher with the woman on board and headed towards the Bari-Palese airport where an ambulance was ready waiting for her to then transport her to the nearest hospital center for the necessary care.
The 15th Wing of the Air Force guarantees, 24 hours a day, 24 days a year, without interruption, the search and rescue of flight crews in difficulty, also contributing to public utility activities such as research of those missing at sea or in the mountains, the emergency medical transport of patients in imminent danger of life and the rescue of seriously traumatized patients, also operating in particularly complex meteorological conditions.
From its establishment to today, the crews of the 15th Stormo have saved more than 7500 people in danger of life. Since 2018, the Department has acquired the AIB (Forest Fire Fighting) capability, contributing to the prevention and fight against fires throughout the national territory as part of the inter-force device put in place by the Defense.