--- title: "An Air Force pararescue team dropped onto a cruise ship to retrieve a sick child" description: "Vacationing cruise ship passengers got a mid-ocean airshow when Air Force helicopters, tankers and PJs arrived to rescue a sick child." date: "2024-05-10" modified: "2024-05-10" authors: - name: "Matt White" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/matt-white/" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/an-air-force-pararescue-team-dropped-onto-a-cruise-ship-to-retrieve-a-sick-child/" categories: - "Air Force" - "Military Branches" - "News" --- # An Air Force pararescue team dropped onto a cruise ship to retrieve a sick child ![]() *Pararescue specialist and Combat Rescue officers from the 920th Rescue Wing buzz the cruise ship Venezia prior to hoisting onto its deck to retrieve a sick child and his mother for an emergency transportation to shore. Air Force photo.* Vacationing passengers aboard a cruise ship found got to see a mid-ocean airshow last week when a small fleet of Air Force rescue aircraft arrived overheard, 350 miles from shore, to transport a sick boy and his mother back to dry land. As decks full of tourists looked on, aircrews from the 920th Rescue Wing dropped pararescue specialists onto the ship, hoisted the mother and son from the deck and headed back to shore. "These real-world missions are what our countless hours of training have prepared us for," [said Lt. Col. John Lowe, 920th Operations Group commander](). "Rescue was able to plan and execute this mission without hesitation." When a call arrived of a seriously ill child aboard the Carnival cruise ship Venezia, the ship was 350 miles off the Atlantic coast of Florida. To reach it, the [**920th Rescue Wing** ]()launched two [**HC-130J tankers**]() and two [**HH-60G helicopter**]()s, each with two-man pararescue teams on board. The Venezia is one of the largest cruise ships on earth and can carry over 4,200 passengers and 1,200 crew — roughly the same complement that sails aboard [a Nimitz-class Navy aircraft carrier](), including the pilots, maintainers and staff of its airwing. In fact, the [Venezia weighs more than a Nimitz-class ship](), is roughly the same length and stands 20 feet taller. For most ocean rescues, the Coast Guard is typically the first maritime response force. But the medical condition of the child on the Venezia required immediate care and the distance from shore required helicopters capable of refueling several times, a specialty of Air Force rescue helicopters and their tankers. “Everyone in the wing mobilized with exceptional speed," said Capt. Dylan Gann, [**301st Rescue Squadron**]() pilot in an Air Force release. Reaching the ship’s remote location required three air-to-air refuelings, the Air Force said. Both HC-130Js circled overhead as the HH-60s hovered over the ship, first dropping Pararescuemen aboard then recovering them with the patient and his mother. The helicopters flew the boy to a Florida hospital and returned to [**Patri**ck]() about eight hours after launching. ## The latest on Task & Purpose - **Marine** [**breaks world record**]() **in deadlift competition** - **Army says combat patches memo on social media is ‘**[**not valid**]()**’** - **Army trainee** [**dies in basic training**]() **at Fort Jackson** - **How** [**grooming standards**]() **have changed in the U.S. military** - **A soldier reenlisted while** [**taped to a Howitzer cannon**]() **and that’s awesome** ## Author Matt White is a senior editor at Task & Purpose*.* He writes on news, people and events that affect the lives of those in the Army, Air Force and Space Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. He also helps direct and edit coverage across Task & Purpose’s newsroom. He has written widely on military aviation and mishaps, service members with unique stories, and special operations including [combat search and rescue](). Got a story to tell? You can reach Matt at [matthew.white@taskandpurpose.com]() ### Author social links [Facebook]()