Participation of Hellenic Personnel and Assets in a SAR Operation after Request by the Italian Authorities

On Thursday 30 06:30 (local time) April 2020, an S-70B AEGEAN HAWK Rotary Wing (RW) aircraft of the Hellenic Navy (with a crew of 4 persons and 1 rescuer) participates in a Search and Rescue (SAR) operation, west of Kefallinia island (inside Rome FIR), after a Canadian Armed Forces helicopter was involved in an accident in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Minister of Defence (MoD) Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos and the CHOD General Konstantinos Floros approved the participation of the aforementioned air asset, after a request by the Italian authorities.

In addition to that a C – 130 Fixed Wing (FW) aircraft of the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) will contribute accordingly from 17:30 (local time) after an official request.

The SAR operation is under coordination of Rome Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC).