A Hellenic Air Force Super Puma helicopter carried out an emergency medical evacuation from a cruise ship sailing south of the Cyclades island of Milos over the weekend, in the latest high-profile rescue operation carried out in Greek waters during an expanding cruise tourism season.
Την Κυριακή 24 Μαΐου 2026, 🚁 Super Puma της ΠΑ εκτέλεσε αποστολή MEDEVAC, 1 ατόμου, από το κρουαζιερόπλοιο «Costa Fascinosa», το όποιο έπλεε 20νμ νότια της Μήλου και το μετέφερε στη Σαντορίνη, όπου το παρέλαβε ασθενοφόρο του ΕΚΑΒ.#ΠολεμικήΑεροπορία #HAF #384ΜΕΔ pic.twitter.com/afu8l16k7v
— Hellenic Air Force (@HAFspokesperson) May 25, 2026
The operation took place on Sunday, when the helicopter retrieved a sole patient from the cruise ship Costa Fascinosa, which was sailing about 20 nautical miles south of Milos, according to the Hellenic Air Force. The patient was airlifted to Santorini and transferred by ambulance to the island’s hospital.
The mission was conducted by the Air Force’s 384 Search and Rescue Squadron, whose Super Puma helicopters are routinely deployed for emergency evacuations from ships and remote islands across the Aegean.
The rescue comes amid increased maritime traffic in Greek waters and a strong rebound in cruise tourism over the past year. Greek authorities have repeatedly relied on military and coast guard assets to carry out medical evacuations involving passengers and crew members aboard cruise ships near island destinations including Rhodes, Andros and Lemnos.
