Evacuation from Kyrgyzstan to Dubai after a severe road accident

FAI Air Ambulance was engaged from the beginning, maintaining close coordination with the client and local medical teams in Bishkek to evaluate all possible transfer options.

Medical condition

Upon hospital admission, the patient was diagnosed with multiple lifethreatening injuries:

• Severe traumatic brain injury with intraventricular and subarachnoid bleeding
• Multiple fractures (cervical/thoracic spine, left orbital bone, clavicle, upper arm)
• Deep unconsciousness (GCS 5–6), unresponsive to verbal stimuli
• Thoracic and facial trauma, as well as internal contusions.

Medical care in Bishkek included intensive monitoring, sedation, pain control, antibiotic therapy, management of intracranial pressure, blood transfusions, and continuous observation. Despite the severity, she breathed spontaneously and showed initial signs of neurological stabilisation.

Preparation for transfer

By 6 June, the FAI medical team and hospital staff confirmed her transport readiness. She remained in intensive care, receiving oxygen, IV fluids, and spinal immobilisation. Vital parameters were stable.

Given the medical situation, a decision was made to urgently transfer the patient to the nearest appropriate trauma centre. At the client's request, FAI assisted in identifying a suitable facility. Repatriation to the US was ruled out.

In close collaboration with FAI Aviation Services DMCC in Dubai and a local FAI intensive care physician, a bed was swiftly secured at a specialised trauma centre in Sharjah.

This mission underscores the crucial role of expert coordination, international flight logistics, and medical expertise in global emergency care

That same day, FAI Air Ambulance dispatched a Challenger 604 from Nuremberg to Bishkek. A reinforced flight crew of three pilots (heavy crew) was assigned to allow for non-stop transport.

The flight to Dubai

On the morning of 7 June, the FAI medical team – consisting of a flight physician and flight paramedic – collected the patient directly from the hospital in Bishkek. Final stabilisation steps were completed, and all diagnostics and documentation were reviewed.

The air ambulance departed at 07:00 hrs local time. During the four-hour flight to Dubai, uninterrupted intensive care was provided, including:

• Full vital sign monitoring
• Oxygen therapy
• Emergency medications
• Ventilation support
• Volume resuscitation.

No complications occurred during the flight; the patient remained stable under continuous medical supervision.

Arrival and handover

Upon landing in Dubai, the patient was transferred by ambulance under FAI’s supervision to the designated trauma centre. A structured medical handover was performed on-site, and follow-up care began immediately.

Conclusion

This mission underscores the crucial role of expert coordination, international flight logistics, and medical expertise in global emergency care. Through close collaboration, meticulous planning, and flawless execution, a severely injured patient was safely evacuated from a remote area to a specialised trauma centre, significantly improving her prognosis.

FAI recently received positive feedback from the patient’s family: she is recovering steadily, awake and responsive, eating and drinking on her own, and taking short assisted walks daily.