The Norwegian Defense Forces are today showing the plane where King Harald was on the 17-hour trip from Malaysia to Gardermoen. The king fell ill after ten days on holiday in Malaysia. Two days later, it was decided that the Norwegian Armed Forces should bring the king home. – I was surprised when I got the phone call, but then it’s just a matter of throwing around and thinking about how we can do it in the safest and best way possible. I think we did that from the start of the mission until we finished it at Gardermoen, says Håkon Asak, medical officer in the Norwegian Armed Forces’ sanitary department. NARRATOR: Anesthesiologist and lieutenant colonel Håkon Asak (left) and medic and chief sergeant Bjørn Eidissen in the air evacuation group of the Norwegian Armed Forces’ sanitary. Photo: Stian Strøm Temporary pacemaker before the flight The king’s personal physician Bjørn Bendz was not with the royal couple on the holiday trip to Malaysia, but traveled down as soon as the king fell ill. The day before his return home, the royal house announces that the king has had a temporary pacemaker implanted. Traveling by plane can be stressful. Temporary pacemakers are commonly used in connection with the transfer of patients, for example between hospitals. Or waiting for a permanent pacemaker to be operated on. – The operation will make the journey home safer, stated the king’s physician Bjørn Bendz. THE PLANE AT LANGKAWI: Here is the plane that brought the king home at the airport at Langkawi in Malaysia. Photo: Philip Lote Tells about the atmosphere on the plane The medical evacuation plane from SAS arrived in Langkawi on 1 March. With the king and queen on board, the plane took off in the direction of Norway early on Sunday 3 March. – The atmosphere on board was quiet and calm. We did a job we’ve done many, many times. Like when we fly out Ukrainian war-wounded patients from Poland. There wasn’t much difference in the mission, apart from the fact that it was our king we were transporting, says Bjørn Eidissen. CAN CARRY PATIENTS: On Friday, the Norwegian Defense Forces showed the inside of the SAS plane the king was evacuated with. Photo: Kristine Urke Johansen / news The plane the king was transported on was originally a normal scheduled plane. Recently, it has been used to transport war casualties from Ukraine. – There is room for 18 bed-ridden patients, and 20 sitting ones in addition, head of the Armed Forces’ sanitation, Brigadier Petter Iversen to news. GET A NEW PLANE: Brigadier Petter Iversen in front of the new SAS plane that will be used for evacuation. Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB Three of the bedridden may be intensive care patients, they may be connected to ventilators. – An aircraft with so many seriously and critically injured is a unique capacity in Europe, says Iversen. Enormous interest The King’s journey home from Malaysia was covered almost minute by minute by the Norwegian media. HERE THE KING LEAVES THE HOSPITAL: An ambulance with a police escort left the hospital Sultanah Maliha at around 5.25am Norwegian time on Sunday 3 March. Photo: MOHD RASFAN / AFP In the middle of Sunday, the international flight in the Emirates. Many thousands followed the return journey on Flightradar. When the plane landed at Gardermoen, there were 97,000 who followed the plane on this website. Has transported Ukrainian war-wounded The SAS plane that was used to transport the king home is the same one that is used to transport wounded Ukrainians to various countries in Europe. – We have been used to transporting patients in recent years because of the mission we have. When you also know that it is the king, you sharpen yourself a little extra mentally. Medically, it will be the same, but it requires planning to make it happen, says Håkon Asak. SAS LUGGAGE: Luggage rack in the old evacuation plane. Photo: Kristine Urke Johansen / news Now they are back to everyday life, at work for the Norwegian Armed Forces’ sanitation in Alta. And can look back on a successful mission. – It was honorable. We did the assignment with great honor and accuracy, says Bjørn Eidissen. Showcased new aircraft On Friday, a new evacuation aircraft was presented at Gardermoen. The king was transported home in a Boeing 737 aircraft. This aircraft will be phased out in May 2025. After that, evacuation will take place with the new Airbus A320neo aircraft type. – The new aircraft has better sustainability, range, noise level and experience, says CEO of SAS Norway Kjetil Håbjørg. The Norwegian Defense Forces must have two such evacuation aircraft. AIRCRAFT WITH LESS NOISE: Here is SAS’ and the Norwegian Armed Forces’ new evacuation aircraft, an Airbus A320neo. Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB Unusual collaboration Håbjørg says they have collaborated with the Norwegian Defense Forces’ evacuation aircraft for 20 years, and believes the agreement shows the strength of Norwegian aviation. In cooperation with the Norwegian Armed Forces, SAS has transported people from Thailand, Iraq, Afghanistan, Algeria and, more recently, injured people from Ukraine. – We are proud to work together with the Norwegian Armed Forces on what we perceive to be very meaningful and eventful assignments, says Håbjørg. WILL BE A NEW EVACUATION AIRCRAFT: The inside of the aircraft, an Airbus A320neo, which will be used in the new agreement on strategic air evacuation between the Norwegian Armed Forces and SAS. Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB The Boeing 737 has been in use at SAS for 25 years, but in November last year SAS carried out its last scheduled flight with the Boeing 737. Since then, the aircraft has been the only 737 model in the SAS fleet. The Norwegian Armed Forces say it is unique in a European context that business and the Norwegian Armed Forces work so closely together. – With the agreement, the capacity for evacuation and repatriation of sick or wounded civilians and military personnel, including intensive care patients, during national and international operations, from and to airports in all parts of the world, is further developed, the Norwegian Armed Forces informs.
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Showcased the plane where the king was lying – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
