Rescue operation for two Saudi pilots

28/03/15

On the second day of Saudi Arabia's military operations against the Houthi militia positions in Yemen, a F-15 fighter suffered a technical failure. The pilot headed for international waters, before launching together with his RIO (Radar Intercept Officer).

The leaders of the Saudi Military Air Force have requested the US intervention to rescue the two soldiers.

The recovery operation was coordinated by the USS Sterett destroyer. The search for the missing at sea lasted two hours, before an HH-60 helicopter, taken off from Djibouti, traced them.

The rescue was notified at 05.20 GMT on Thursday 26 March. The governments of the countries involved, expressed satisfaction with the result obtained, and for the perfect coordination between the two chains of command and control.

The USS Sterett missile destroyer, DDG-104, was in the area as a participant in anti-piracy operations and is redeployed in Oman.

Giovanni Caprara