20.07.2024 In a joint rescue operation with the sailing ship Trotamar III, our Aurora crew rescued 122 people in distress at sea on Saturday morning. We spotted the people in distress on an unseaworthy double-deck wooden boat without water, food, or life jackets from our Seabird aircraft and informed the authorities. Shortly after the rescue, we overheard the next distress call over the radio, sent by a Frontex aircraft: 20 people in acute emergency on a sinking iron boat.
Instead of sending their coastguard immediately, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Rome initially instructed us to intervene. However, we already had too many people on board – including a medical emergency – and demanded that Italy take over another rescue. While we were still on our way to the people in distress, the authorities eventually informed us that the Italian coastguard would take over the rescue after all. We later learned that fortunately all people could be rescued and brought ashore.
One person on board our Aurora was evacuated during the night. With the remaining 70 survivors, we arrived at the port of Lampedusa on Sunday at noon. We successfully disembarked all people and wish them only the best!
