LANGLEY AFB, Va., Oct. 9 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command issued the following press release:
Less than two hours after the 563rd Rescue Group received the first mission brief about a man in need of medical assistance on a tanker vessel off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, on Feb. 5, 2026, the entire team was already flying out of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to assist.It would be a difficult mission. The patient, a 19-year-old Greek man, was having medical concerns that had left him paralyzed, increasing the challenge of a water rescue. The distance across open water was almost 400 miles, which would require several air-to-air refueling maneuvers. Pararescuemen would need to hoist down onto the moving vessel and render care. ...