International repatriation at the highest level – DRF Assistance

The 4 December 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand: the crew of DRF Assistance, which is part of DRF Luftrettung, is preparing for a challenging mission: a 40-year-old tourist who had been seriously injured in a motor scooter accident needs to be repatriated to his home country. The preliminary diagnosis received by DRF Assistance the day before is dramatic: suspected paraplegia, vertebral fractures, multiple rib fractures and a lung injury. The treating clinic had stabilised him – now a highly professional medical repatriation is required.

The crew coordinates the medical details closely with the treating doctors and the DRF Luftrettung Operations Control Center. The outbound flight from the home base in Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport is also challenging: the route takes them over regions where international tensions repeatedly cause GPS failures and signal interference. Thanks to modern avionics and proven backup systems, the crew is able to safely navigate the complex route and concentrate fully on their core tasks.

At the hospital in Bangkok, the medical crew takes over the patient, and an organised ambulance takes them to the airport. During the long flight the crew continuously monitors the patient’s vital signs, administers strong painkillers as needed and regularly changes the patient’s lying position to prevent necrosis (bedsores). Despite the severity of his injuries, the man remains stable. After around 14 hours of flight time, he is safely transferred to the destination hospital in Denmark. The crew is particularly touched by the gratitude of his best friend, who was allowed to accompany him on the return flight for emotional support – a moment that shows how closely professionalism and humanity are interlinked in the crews’ everyday work. The patient is at the centre of every decision, every process and every mission – whether abroad, at the scene of the accident or in communication.

Focus on the patient – the importance of patient advocacy

This case illustrates what DRF Assistance and DRF Luftrettung stand for: the highest level of medical expertise combined with a deep understanding of the stressful situation faced by those affected. DRF Luftrettung consistently pursues the goal of ensuring the best possible care for each individual patient – regardless of location, situation or complexity. The mission in Bangkok is one of hundreds of repatriations worldwide each year that are carried out safely thanks to sophisticated logistics, integrated processes and years of expertise. And, it also shows how much DRF Luftrettung lives patient-centred care in all aspects.

Patient advocacy – a key element of patient safety

As patient advocacy plays a special role within DRF Luftrettung, it was the first air rescue organisation in Germany to introduce the role of patient advocate at the end of 2024. It has been accepted as an institutional member of the Federal Association of Patient Advocates in Hospitals (Bundesverband Patientenfürsprecher in Krankenhäusern e.V), thereby sending a strong signal for greater patient safety and transparency. With this step, it emphasises that patient safety and participation are not just theoretical models but actively lived reality. The aim is to give affected people a voice. This is because, especially in air rescue, questions, the need for transparency or even support in dealing with a traumatic experience usually arise only after a mission has been completed.

Carsten Dummann, Patient Advocate at DRF Luftrettung, describes his role as a connecting element between the organisation and the patients it has helped as an independent, confidential contact for concerns of all kinds. This includes not only complaints, but also praise, comments or questions about procedures. “Since I started my job a year ago, I have received around 120 enquiries. The great response shows that people need someone to represent their perspective. If we listen to the voice of patients, we can improve the healthcare system step by step,” he said.

His work is embedded in a broader strategy: consistently strengthening the patient perspective and systematically evaluating operations based on real experiences. The first comprehensive patient survey conducted by DRF Luftrettung also contributes to this. Around 95% of those surveyed said they were very satisfied with the care they received – an exceptionally high figure, especially given the stressful and emergency situations in which air rescue operates.

Global ambulance flights – DRF Assistance as a reliable partner

This consistent development also characterises DRF Assistance, which offers an extensive range of assistance services in addition to its international ambulance flight operations, such as medical assessments and medical transport logistics. DRF Assistance is part of DRF Luftrettung, one of the world’s largest air rescue organisations. Helicopters and air ambulances take off from 33 bases at 31 locations in Germany. With three air ambulance aircraft at Karlsruhe/BadenBaden Airport, DRF Assistance carries out worldwide medical repatriations – equipped like flying intensive care units, staffed by trained intensive care specialists and organised using highly professional processes. The aircraft, two Learjet 35As and one Cessna Citation C680 Sovereign+, are designed so that even the most serious medical conditions can be safely treated during international long-haul missions.

Particularly remarkable is the integrated process approach: medical assessment, coordination with clinics and insurance companies, international ground logistics, quality management – everything is provided from a single source. The Operation Control Center is staffed around the clock, so that dispatchers can take orders and handle the logistics of the missions at any time (24/7). This comprehensive approach minimises risks, speeds up processes and creates a reliable basis for the safe care of patients worldwide.

Mission statistics for 2025 – growth, experience and trust

The 2025 mission statistics underline the importance of DRF Assistance for international medical repatriation. In total, it carried out 479 patient repatriations worldwide – an increase of 24% compared with the previous year. It flew to 45 countries and covered around 1.6 million kilometres, which is equivalent to approximately 40 trips around the world.

For patients, relatives, insurance companies and medical partners worldwide, DRF Assistance is a partner that guarantees safety, medical excellence and professional procedures – even under difficult conditions such as the mission in Bangkok.