The Sri Lanka Aviation Unit, operating under the United Nations mandate in the Central African Republic (CAR), successfully carried out a critical Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC) mission recently (15 Dec), under extremely hostile and volatile conditions.
The mission was launched in response to an urgent request for the evacuation of two United Nations personnel who had sustained combat-related injuries in the Zemio area.
Issuing a statement, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) said demonstrating exceptional operational readiness and professionalism, the mission was executed using a Mi-17 helicopter (UNO 325P).
The aircraft was captained by Wing Commander Nelson De Silva, with Flight Lieutenant Arunoda Ekanayake serving as Co-Pilot. The aircrew comprised Squadron Leader Sandeepa Wijayathunga, Sergeant Senevirathne WCN, and Corporal Rodrigo DVPM. The Aeromedical Evacuation Team consisted of Group Captain Sujith Perera, Flight Sergeant Sumedha KW and Flight Sergeant Karunadasa RDH, who provided critical in-flight medical care to the casualties.
The extraction site was located approximately 20 kilometres northeast of the Zemio Permanent Operating Base (POB) and presented significant operational challenges. These included extremely dusty landing conditions, an unstable and rapidly evolving tactical environment, and the requirement for a precision landing under constant threat. Despite these constraints, the aircrew displayed remarkable courage, sound judgment, and outstanding airmanship throughout the operation.
A comprehensive threat assessment conducted by the Captain, taking into account the critical condition of the casualties, reflected exceptional adaptability and operational decision-making. Through meticulous planning, effective coordination, and unwavering commitment to mission success, the CASEVAC operation was executed flawlessly.
The total flight duration of the mission was 1 hour and 45 minutes. The injured personnel were safely extracted from the hostile location and successfully transported to Bangui for advanced medical treatment. (Newswire)