HMAS
Success' Sea King flight and medical team were put on stand-by
to go to the aid of a Malaysian fighter pilot forced to eject
from his machine during STARDEX 2002.
The Hawke fighter went down in the South China Sea.
It is thought a hydraulic problem forced the emergency.
The pilot radioed a "mayday" before departing his jet.
There was some initial confusion where he landed and for some
time it was thought Success was the nearest rescue resource.
As a result the ship's Sea King, her medical team and photographer
were put on stand-by to respond.
In the end the pilot was picked up by the Malaysian Q Class ship
Jebat.
Exercise organisers praised all involved pointing out it took
just an hour to find the plane and rescue its pilot.
- By
LEUT Fenn Kemp in Success
