Summary：**RSAF Rescues Crew Member from Sea, Rushes to SGH for Emergency Care** **Introduction** On the mo

**RSAF Rescues Crew Member from Sea, Rushes to SGH for Emergency Care**

**Introduction**
On the morning of 2 November 2025, a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) helicopter crew performed a daring sea‑based rescue after a commercial vessel reported a crew member overboard near the Singapore Strait. The swift response highlighted the RSAF’s readiness to conduct maritime search‑and‑rescue (SAR) operations and underscored the importance of rapid medical evacuation to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) for critical care.

**Key Developments**
The incident began at approximately 08:15 local time when the bulk carrier *MV Pacific Horizon* issued a distress call after one of its deckhands fell into the water during rough sea conditions. The RSAF’s 120 Squadron, operating an Airbus H225M Super Puma, was scrambled from Sembawang Air Base within eight minutes of receiving the alert. Using forward‑looking infrared (FLIR) and night‑vision capabilities, the aircrew located the unconscious sailor clinging to a life‑raft about 3.2 nautical miles from the vessel.

A rescue swimmer was deployed via a hoist, stabilized the victim, and lifted him aboard the helicopter. The crew administered basic life support en route, maintaining airway patency and controlling bleeding from a laceration on the victim’s leg. The aircraft touched down at SGH’s helipad at 09:02, where a trauma team was already waiting. Immediate transfer to the emergency department allowed for rapid imaging, blood transfusion, and surgical consultation, significantly improving the patient’s prognosis.

**Industry Analysis**
The operation demonstrates the growing integration of air assets into national maritime safety frameworks. Singapore’s SAR capability relies on a layered approach: coastal patrol vessels, unmanned aerial surveillance, and rapid‑response helicopters. Recent investments in the RSAF’s H225M fleet—equipped with advanced hoist systems and medical kits—have reduced average response times from 15 minutes to under 10 minutes in coastal zones.

Experts note that the incident also reflects the effectiveness of joint training exercises between the RSAF, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), and SGH’s emergency services. Regular drills that simulate helicopter hoist rescues in high‑sea states have improved