NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. – A Search and Rescue (SAR) team from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island conducted a Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) early this morning for a woman from Lopez Island with pregnancy complications. The SAR crew of five took off at about 4 a.m. to airlift the 29-year-old woman from Lopez Island airport to Island Hospital, Anacortes, Wash. This is the fourth MEDEVAC SAR has flown from the San Juan Islands since Jan. 5, 2015.

Last year, NAS Whidbey Island SAR launched on 18 search and rescue missions and 10 medical evacuations, resulting in 47 lives saved.

The Navy SAR unit operates three MH-60 helicopters from NAS Whidbey as search and rescue platforms for the EA-18G aircraft as well as other squadrons and personnel assigned to the installation. The base also has an agreement to assist Washington State with medical evacuations and search and rescue activities.