VIDEO: 920th Rescue Wing Executes Long-Range Emergency Extraction of Cruise Ship Passenger

evacuation EXECUTED 600 MILES OFF Florida

ABOVE VIDEO: Citizen Airmen with the 920th Rescue Wing depart for a long-range rescue of a cruise ship passenger who required medical evacuation approximately 600 miles off the coast of Florida Nov. 7. The HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters piloted by eight Citizen Airmen launched at approximately 1:30 p.m. transporting four Guardian Angel Airmen who specialize in all types of rescues. (U.S. Air Force – Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Maurice video)

BREVARD COUNTY • PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA – Nearly 100 Citizen Airmen Reservists in the air, and on the ground, saved a man’s life after he became ill on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship 600 miles at sea off the coast of Florida.

A distress call was received by the 920th Rescue Wing at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday that said a man had a case of appendicitis, and officials said the man’s condition was “deteriorating.”

Airmen took off in two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and two HC-130 aerial refueling aircraft.

The foursome carried a team of Guardian Angel Airmen and exchanged fuel mid-air several times to pull off their second long-range rescue at sea in four months.

The Royal Caribbean ship, Grandeur of the Seas, was underway north, en route to port in Baltimore, Maryland after a Caribbean cruise.

Upon arrival to the ship, rescuers hoisted the patient and his wife up to the helicopter.

The victim was taken to Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center. His condition has not been released.

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