Singapore Air Force medevac five injured US sailors

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has mobilised its airpower after a US Navy destroyer crashed into a commercial ship, injuring five US sailors, with a further 10 still missing.

USS John S. McCain collided with merchant vessel Alnic MC, which sails under the Liberian flag, whilst the destroyer was heading for a routine visit to Singapore at 05:24 hrs local time. The US Navy confirmed that five sailors were injured in the collision, whilst a further 10 sailors are still lost. The USS John S. McCain then docked at Changi Naval Base.

The RSAF has reported that it responded to the collision, transporting the injured seamen to Singapore General Hospital in a Super Puma aircraft. The RSAF has also contributed its Super Puma and Chinook helicopters in order to search for the missing seamen. The RSN meanwhile, has mobilised for the search and rescue efforts, with a number of its helicopters plus its Fearless-class patrol ships RSS Gallant and RSS Resilience. There are also a number of local tugboats, plus Singaporean Police Coast Guard vessel Basking Shark in the water searching.

US amphibious assault ship USS America was in the area near the collision, meaning that it scrambled its MH-60S helicopter, whilst an additional MH-60S and MV-22 Osprey arrived later to join the search.