Abruzzo emergency helicopter service under legal scrutiny

Regional councilors from the Democratic Party (PD) have filed a formal complaint with prosecutors regarding the new emergency helicopter service contract for L'Aquila and Pescara in the Abruzzo region.

The complaint, initiated following concerns raised by Pierpaolo Pietrucci, alleges that the replacement of AW139 helicopters with AW109 models could compromise specialized operations. Specifically, the PD claims the new aircraft may be unable to perform winch interventions in steep or mountainous terrain, potentially increasing emergency response times.

The service was urgently assigned to Elitaliana after two previous tender procedures managed by AREACOM failed to reach an award. In response, officials from the L'Aquila and Pescara HEMS 118 bases dismissed the allegations as “unjustified alarmism,” noting that Elitaliana is a long-standing operator in the region.