Indian Navy airlifts Japanese sailor in medical emergency

Hyderabad: In a swift emergency response, an Indian Navy crew evacuated a Japanese sailor from a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ship approximately 200 km off the Visakhapatnam coast on Saturday.

“Responding swiftly as a first responder and trusted global security partner, Indian Navy launched a Sea King helicopter on Feb 14 to evacuate a critically ill Japanese sailor from a JMSDF ship 200 km from Visakhapatnam," said an Indian Navy spokesperson.

"The patient was safely airlifted to the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command (ENC) headquarters at INS Dega and shifted to Naval Hospital Kalyani for medical aid. The medical evacuation operation reflects strong international maritime cooperation between India and Japan,” said the Indian Navy's spokesperson.

Sources in the Indian Navy indicated that the JMSDF ship is en route to the Vizag coast to participate in the International Fleet Review (IFR) scheduled for Feb 18, as well as the 13th edition of MILAN—Indian Navy's flagship multilateral naval exercise—from Feb 18 to 25 at Visakhapatnam and in the waters of the Bay of Bengal.

Invitations have been extended to over 135 countries for MILAN 26, which will bring together navies from friendly foreign countries to strengthen professional bonds, share best practices, and enhance cooperation at sea. The exercise will focus on large-scale multilateral operations, providing invaluable experience in operating together as a cohesive maritime force.