A.F.M. assistance to the Department of Health

On Thursday evening at 8.15p.m. the AFM Operations Centre was informed that there was an urgent requirement to transport blood samples from St Lukes Hospital to the Umberto Primo Hospital in Rome. Arrangements were made for the Italian Military Mission AB 212 Helicopter to fly with the blood samples to Catania. In the mean time the Italian Airforce were requested to have an aircraft on standby at Catania so that the samples could continue on their journey up to Rome without any delays. After all the required arrangements were concluded the operation was started at 00.45 a.m. with the AB 212 which was piloted by an Italian and a Maltese pilots. The second leg of the trip started at 02.00 a.m. from Catania without mishap.