When every hour counts: aeromedical evacuation for severe burns

Major disasters involving fires and mass burn casualties place an immediate and exceptional burden on healthcare systems. This was again demonstrated by the tragic incident in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, where numerous victims sustained severe burn injuries within a very short period. Local hospitals rapidly reached the limits of their intensive care and burn‑treatment capacity, making rapid aeromedical evacuation essential.

In such situations, air ambulance services enable the timely transfer of critically injured patients to specialised burn centres, where highly complex and resource‑intensive care can be provided. Speed is a decisive factor.

The European response unit

European Air Ambulance (EAA), acting on behalf of the Luxembourgish government, was an integral part of the coordinated European Union (EU) response following the request for assistance from the Swiss authorities. Within 48 hours of the incident, EAA conducted two medical evacuation missions using its Learjet 45XR, transporting severely burned patients from Switzerland to specialised burn centres in Germany.

The patients required continuous intensive care throughout the flights, underlining the high medical and logistical complexity of these operations. EAA’s contribution formed part of established European civil‑protection frameworks, which enable participating states to rapidly mobilise and share highly specialised aeromedical capabilities during large‑ scale emergencies.

Burn injury experience

EAA’s experience in the aeromedical evacuation of patients with severe burn injuries extends beyond this single incident. In March 2025, following a deadly nightclub fire in North Macedonia, EAA participated in internationally coordinated medical evacuations. Four critically burned patients were transported by EAA to specialised hospitals in different European countries with the necessary burn‑care expertise.

In autumn 2023, EAA was involved in evacuations from Armenia after a catastrophic fuel depot explosion caused hundreds of severe burn injuries and overwhelmed local hospitals. As part of the international response, EAA performed three air ambulance flights with its Learjet 45XR fleet, evacuating heavily burned patients to specialised burn centres across Europe. These missions demonstrated the role of aeromedical evacuation not only in accidental mass‑casualty events but also in humanitarian and crisis‑related contexts.

The medical urgency underlying all these operations is well recognised. Severe burns are systemic injuries that trigger a profound inflammatory response and can rapidly lead to hypovolaemic shock, respiratory failure, renal dysfunction, and sepsis. Loss of skin integrity results in massive fluid loss within hours, while inhalation injuries may cause progressive airway obstruction if not managed early. Infection and sepsis remain the leading causes of mortality in burn patients, making early transfer to specialised centres time‑critical. Specialised burn centre care with intensive management and surgery significantly improves survival and long‑term outcomes.

Medical expertise

EAA has developed extensive operational and medical experience in responding to mass‑casualty incidents involving patients with severe burn injuries. Through its 24/7 multilingual operations control centre, EAA ensures continuous monitoring, rapid coordination, and efficient deployment of resources, even under highly challenging conditions.

Its processes and the capacity to plan and execute complex aeromedical evacuations at extremely short notice have reinforced EAA’s reputation as a reliable and highly specialised air ambulance operator. Medical crews are trained to work under intense time pressure, frequently with limited initial clinical information, and have gained advanced expertise in the stabilisation, management, and safe transport of critically burned patients.

These missions underscore EAA’s critical role in ensuring that rapid, expertly coordinated aeromedical evacuation remains a lifesaving cornerstone in the treatment of severe burn injuries during major emergencies.