Icelandic helicopter crew completes two long-range medical flights

An Icelandic Coast Guard helicopter carried out two long-range medical evacuations on the same day, including a mission to East Greenland, mbl.is reports. The Coast Guard was asked to assist after Nuuk’s rescue centre determined that Icelandic helicopters were the nearest available help.

The helicopter was sent to East Greenland on Thursday to collect an ill passenger from a passenger ship. Coast Guard spokesperson Ásgeir Erlendsson said it was unusual for the service to respond to a call in Greenland, but cooperation between Greenland, Denmark and Iceland in the region was strong.

Earlier that day, the crew of TF-GRO had collected an ill crew member from a passenger ship about 140 nautical miles northeast of Iceland. The helicopter departed Reykjavík Airport at 2.35pm and stopped in Akureyri to refuel. Shortly after 5pm, the crew member was lifted aboard and flown to Ísafjörður, where an ambulance aircraft took him on to Reykjavík.

The helicopter then prepared for the Greenland mission. It arrived at Nerlerit Inaat Airport, also known as Constable Point, at 9pm, refuelled and continued to the passenger ship. The ill passenger was lifted aboard and flown back to the airport, where a Norlandair ambulance aircraft transported him to Iceland.

“It was an unusual day, especially given that there were two flights far out at sea,” Ásgeir said. Coast Guard surveillance aircraft TF-SIF accompanied the helicopter on both long-range flights. Another helicopter and crew were also kept on standby during the medical missions.