Rescue crews from 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base have assisted in evacuating a passenger suffering from appendicitis on Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas ship about 690 mi off Cape Canaveral.
Airbase's authorities carried out the long-range rescue from Baltimore (Maryland port) based ship late Tuesday, via utilizing 2 HC-130 aerial refueling aircraft and HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters to reach the vessel.
The rescue team planned to hoist the sick man onto HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter via high-angle rope. The mission involved 4 air-to-air refueling rendezvous points located over the ocean between trips to the cruise ship. Nearly 100 rescue air personnel assisted behind the scenes as this operation got underway.
Grandeur of the Seas was returning to Maryland from Caribbean on a cruise which departed October 28.
The man, accompanied with his wife aboard the helicopter, was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center.
Officials reported he is recovering there.