Portuguese C-295M in the rescue of 244 migrants

On 17 June, the Portuguese Air Force reported on the part it played in the rescue of 244 migrants in the Mediterranean Sea. Following a request from the Rescue Coordination Centre of Malta, a Portuguese Air Force C-295M plane taking part in the European Union’s FRONTEX mission assisted in a search and rescue mission in support of Dutch frigate HNLMS Van Amstel. The search location lay outside the surveillance area allocated to the Portuguese detachment. Because it was an unassigned area, the International Coordination Center of Rome asked the Portuguese Air Command for authorisation to redirect the C-295M. The plane operated by the 502 Squadron out of Sigonella, Italy, then flew in and supported the Dutch frigate in the rescue of 181 men, 23 women and 40 minors.