The Indian Air Force (IAF) airlifted a critically ill 30-year-old civilian patient from Leh to Delhi aboard a C-130J aircraft in a late-night medical evacuation operation conducted amid darkness and challenging weather conditions, officials said on Sunday.
The emergency evacuation was carried out late Saturday night at short notice, requiring extensive operational preparedness, coordination among personnel and timely execution to ensure that the patient could receive advanced medical treatment.
According to the Defence Ministry, the IAF deployed a C-130J transport aircraft to evacuate the patient from Leh to the Palam air base in the national capital.
"The mission was carried out in darkness and challenging weather conditions, requiring a high degree of operational preparedness, professional coordination and timely execution," the ministry said in a statement.
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ
Following the aircraft's arrival at Palam, the patient was transferred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi for further medical treatment.
Officials said the evacuation demonstrated the IAF's ability to respond swiftly to urgent humanitarian requirements despite difficult operating conditions.
The ministry highlighted the importance of professional coordination and operational readiness in executing the short-notice mission.
It said the operation reflected the Air Force's preparedness to undertake critical medical evacuations in challenging circumstances.
The ministry did not disclose the patient's medical condition or further details about the treatment being provided at AIIMS.