# SQUALO 2026 maritime rescue exercise concludes

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/squalo-2026-maritime-rescue-exercise
> Updated: 2026-10-18T22:01:50.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 3.

The SQUALO 2026 international maritime search and rescue exercise concluded on September 24 in the Gulf of Cagliari. Coordinated by the 13th Maritime Rescue Sub Centre of the Cagliari Coast Guard, the drill was conducted under the SARMEDOCC cooperation agreement between Italy, France, and Spain.

The exercise simulated a high-stakes emergency involving the water landing of an aircraft flying from Tunis to Alghero with 55 people on board. Following a simulated ‘MAYDAY’ call and loss of radio contact, the search and rescue chain was activated to manage the search, identification, and recovery of survivors, the localization of black boxes, and the response to a simulated fuel spill.

The operation involved a large deployment of personnel and assets from the Italian Air Force, Coast Guard, Guardia di Finanza, Carabinieri, Firefighters, State Police, Civil Protection, and the Italian Red Cross, alongside international components and foreign observers.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-18: Squalo 2026 Search and Rescue exercise concludes in Italy

The Squalo 2026 maritime search and rescue exercise concluded in Italy, simulating an aircraft ditching with 55 passengers to test international cooperation between Italy, France, and Spain.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/squalo-2026-search-and-rescue-exercise-concludes-in-italy

### 2026-09-21: Ottone hosts ESE 2026 search and rescue exercise

Over 120 rescue operators participated in the ESE Ottone 2026 exercise in Italy, training for Apennine search and rescue operations through simulated emergency scenarios.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ottone-hosts-ese-2026-search-and-rescue-exercise

### 2026-09-20: Gulf of Cagliari to host SQUALO 2026 international rescue drill

The SQUALO 2026 international maritime search and rescue exercise will be held in the Gulf of Cagliari on September 24, simulating a Boeing 737 emergency involving Italy, France, and Spain.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gulf-of-cagliari-to-host-squalo-2026-international-rescue-drill

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Cite as: SQUALO 2026 maritime rescue exercise concludes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/squalo-2026-maritime-rescue-exercise