Ministry of Defense: Turkish Sailor Seriously Injured Aboard Merchant Ship Evacuated Off Tizi Ouzou
The Ministry of Defense announced in a statement that Coast Guard units carried out an urgent medical evacuation of a Turkish sailor who was seriously injured aboard a merchant ship sailing off the Algerian coast.
The statement explained that the National Maritime Search and Rescue Operations Center received an urgent medical evacuation request on October 26, 2026, at 4:48 p.m., from the captain of the Turkish merchant ship “HACI ALI SARI,” which was 28 nautical miles north of Azeffoun in Tizi Ouzou province. The casualty is a 20-year-old Turkish crew member who suffered a serious back injury after falling on board the vessel.
Immediately, and in coordination with the Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Operations Center in Algiers (1st Military Region), the National Center launched the medical evacuation operation, deploying the MS21 search and rescue helicopter of the 560th Search and Rescue Helicopter Squadron in the 1st Military Region.
The injured sailor was rapidly transported to Zeralda Hospital, where he received first aid, before being transferred to Beni Messous Hospital to receive the necessary treatment.
The Ministry affirmed that this operation falls within the humanitarian missions of the Coast Guard units under the Naval Forces Command, and reflects the efforts made and the units’ commitment to intervening to save human lives at sea, under all conditions.
Omar Tadrist
