Air ambulance aircraft safe, assures Maldivian
Maldivian operator, Island Aviation in a statement refuted the rumors, assuring the public of the safety of the aircraft
Summary
Maldivian operator, Island Aviation in a statement refuted the rumors, assuring the public of the safety of the aircraft
Maldives' flag carrier, Maldivian on Friday assured that the aircraft converted as an air ambulance to use in medevacs was safe and up to the required aviation security standards.
Health Ministry in collaboration with Maldivian launched the country's first air ambulance service earlier Friday between Maldives and Sri Lanka converting a DHC 8-200 aircraft.
However, question marks have been raised on social media over the safety of the aircraft, some claiming that the aircraft was an old and had hardly been used for several years.
Maldivian operator, Island Aviation in a statement refuted the rumors, assuring the public of the safety of the aircraft.
The company also said:
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The aircraft has been refitted with the necessary medical equipment to meet the standards of an air ambulance
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Maldivian would give top priority to the crew and passenger safety in flight operations
Health Ministry had earlier said 15 medical service personnel would be deployed for the medevac operations including doctors, nurses and medical technicians.
Previously, Maldivian airline’s charter flights and Indian aircraft were used to transport patients from different islands of Maldives.
A framework for immediate authorization of emergency medical evacuation flights was signed between Sri Lanka and Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen during his visit to Colombo last month.
Ameen had then said:
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In a meeting with Ameen, discussions were held regarding air ambulance service to transport people in need of urgent treatment due to accidents and diseases to Sri Lanka for treatment
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The Maldives is currently sending such patients to India for urgent treatment, but the government plans to send such patients to Sri Lanka in the future, he said, adding that this is due to the improvement in the quality of health services in Sri Lanka
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The Maldives agreed to start air ambulance service to Sri Lanka's Katunayake Airport on March 1
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A special unit has been set up at the airport for the purpose and all necessary permissions have been given to provide the service.
