Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and the Norwegian Armed Forces have operated near-weekly medical evacuation flights, transporting more than 3,500 wounded Ukrainian soldiers and civilians to hospitals across Europe.
The missions are conducted under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and have become one of SAS’s most significant humanitarian operations in modern history.
A Boeing 737 Turned Flying Hospital
At the centre of the operation is a specially configured Boeing 737 converted into a flying hospital. The aircraft features 18 hospital beds, including three intensive care units, and 39 additional seats, allowing medical teams to tailor each mission to patient needs.
SAS crews work alongside medical personnel from the Norwegian Armed Forces Medical Services in a civil–military partnership built on more than 25 years of cooperation. Together, they have carried out over 180 Medevac missions since 2022.
“These missions are unlike most operations in commercial aviation,” said Anko van der Werff, President and CEO of SAS. He emphasized that as Scandinavia’s national carrier, SAS views supporting society in times of crisis as part of its responsibility.
A Model for Civil–Military Cooperation
The Medevac programme led by the Norwegian Armed Forces has been described as a model for public–private collaboration in emergency preparedness. Missions require detailed planning, cross-border coordination and operational precision, as patients are transported from Ukraine to hospitals throughout Europe.
Brigadier Petter Iversen, Surgeon General for the Norwegian Armed Forces, highlighted the importance of the cooperation, noting that the initiative both supports Ukraine’s strained healthcare system and strengthens Norway’s own medical preparedness through operational experience.
Recognising the Crews
In 2025, 24 SAS employees were awarded the Norwegian Armed Forces’ Medal for International Service in recognition of their contribution to the Ukraine Medevac operation. The awards reflect more than 180 missions completed since the start of the war.
The medals were presented alongside military and health personnel, underscoring the trust and shared purpose behind the partnership.
Continuing the Mission
As the war enters its fifth year, SAS has confirmed that it will continue supporting the Medevac operation under an extended agreement with the Norwegian Armed Forces.
To date, more than 3,500 wounded and critically ill patients have been transported. For SAS, the programme illustrates how commercial aviation can contribute directly to Europe’s humanitarian response infrastructure when circumstances demand it.
Key figures underline the scale of the effort: more than 3,500 patients transported, over 180 missions completed, near-weekly operations since 2022, and a Boeing 737 operating as a fully equipped flying hospital under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
