US Air Force’s Timely Intervention
In a tense and decisive rescue effort, the US Air Force spectacularly saved a critically ill 12-year-old boy and his panic-stricken mother from the cruise ship Carnival Venezia, which was approximately 400 miles off the US mainland. The boy, Aiden, was believed to have suffered a life-threatening intestinal perforation, a medical emergency that required immediate intervention.
The US Air Force’s 920th Rescue Wing, a team of combat rescue officers and pararescuemen, was deployed “within hours” after receiving the distress call from the ship. Two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and two HC-130J Combat King II aircraft took off from Patrick Space Force Base in Florida, performing three complex aerial refuelings to meet the demands of this far-reaching rescue mission.
Angela Bridges and her son Aiden were safely hoisted onto the helicopters, and the boy received critical care on board the aircraft. They were then transported to a medical center in North Carolina, where Aiden continues to receive treatment. His current condition has not been widely disclosed.
Rescue pilot Dylan Gann shared, “The entire wing was mobilized with exceptional speed. By uniting our efforts, we saved precious time, providing life-saving support before other response teams could arrive.”
Despite the incident, the Carnival Venezia cruise ship continued its journey and arrived in New York as scheduled on Monday.
