AF medical personnel tend to sick passenger

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea Jan. 17, 2007 -- Senior Airman Tonya Jones, 8th Medical Group medical technician, prepares to receive a 65-year old Korean male in need of medical attention. The man was transported to an awaiting ambulance after his Korean Airline flight was diverted to Kunsan from Incheon International Airport. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Gallahan)

AF medical personnel tend to sick passenger

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea Jan. 17, 2007 -- Kunsan Air Base medical personnel helps to rush a 65-year old Korean male in need of medical attention to an awaiting ambulance after his Korean Airline flight was diverted to Kunsan from Incheon International Airport. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Gallahan)

AF medical personnel tend to sick passenger

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea Jan. 17, 2007 -- Medical and security personnel rush a 65-year old Korean male in need of medical attention to an awaiting ambulance after his Korean Airline flight was diverted to Kunsan from Incheon International Airport. The passenger airliner, with 274 people on board, diverted here due to poor weather at Incheon. He was transported to Kunsan Medical Center, located in downtown Kunsan City. The passengers were offered bottled water as they waited to take off, and the aircraft was refueled by Air Force personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Gallahan)

AF medical personnel tend to sick passenger

Published Jan. 17, 2007
By Senior Airman Stephen Collier
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Two Boeing 747 aircraft made emergency landings here Jan. 17 after Incheon International Airport's runway closed for low visibility due to fog.

The two Korean Airline aircraft, one laden with cargo, the other with passengers, were greeted by 8th Fighter Wing leadership and support personnel with open arms.

"Our day-to-day mission is to defend the base, accept follow on forces and take the fight north in support of the alliance with our South Korean allies" said Col. Jeff "Wolf" Lofgren, commander here. "Today, with the 38th Fighter Group Republic of Korea Air Force, we accepted two civilian aircraft that were in trouble."

The passenger airliner, with 274 people on board, diverted to Kunsan to seek immediate medical attention for a 65-year old Korean male. Emergency responders from the 8th Security Forces and Civil Engineer Squadron, along with 8th Medical Group personnel, promptly stabilized the individual and then arranged for transportation to the Kunsan Medical Center, located in downtown Kunsan City.

"It all went pretty smooth," Col. Joe "Hawk" Ortega, 8th Medical Group commander said. "We had the ambulance respond to the scene, a Korean nurse to help translate and fire rescue responded quickly to get this individual out [of the aircraft.] It all went like clockwork."

Colonel Ortega added this kind of response shows the strength of the relationship between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea.

"We didn't think twice about coming out and getting this man the right medical attention," he said. "It was well done. All that training and practice made it all work smoothly."

The passengers were also offered bottled water, provided by the 8th Services Squadron and the aircraft was refueled for the last-leg of the trip to Incheon by members of the 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

The 8th Fighter Wing stands ready to support any kind of contingency, whether in peace time or war.