Airborne Service Executed Emergency Search & Rescue Mission for Missing Climbers
At about 10:17 on February 28, the Airborne Service Corp, MOI received an emergency mission inform from the Fire Agency: two climbers got lost in the Chiachiuling Mountain of Sanxia District, New Taipei City. They might be trapped in the valley and the condition was critical. After confirming relevant information and the coordinate position, the Corp instantly inform equipped crews of UH-1H (No. NA-520) from Group 2 (stationed at Taipei Songshan) of the 1st Service Battalion to go for search and rescue. The task plane arrived at the target area at 10:50 and start the search work immediately. The dense trees in the mountainous area increased the difficulties of search and rescue. The crews of the task plane walk along the valley back and forth without any result. After discussion, they decided to search along the Chiuling Ridge. They finally found those two missing climbers at about 150 meters below the eastern 600-meter ridge of Chiachiuling Mountain at 11:13. The position where the climbers stayed had dense trees. Thus, hanging work could not be carried out. Therefore, the aircraft commander firstly found some open spaces and put down two logistics workers there. They cleared parts of trees to cleave another place for executing the hanging operation. At about 11:45, hanging operation was executed. Two special search members and two missing climbers were saved by lifesaving rings at twice. At about 11:55, the plane arrived at New Taipei Municipal Mingde Highschool in Sanxia District. Ground personnel took over the follow-up rescue of the two climbers. The mission was completed successfully.