A Japanese sailor from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship, who fell seriously ill and was safely airlifted by the Indian Navy to INS Degain an emergency medical evacuation on Saturday. | Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
The Indian Navy executed a high-risk medical evacuation on Saturday (February 14, 2026), rescuing a critically ill Japanese sailor from a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessel located 200 km off the Visakhapatnam coast. The sailor was safely airlifted to INS Dega from where he was transferred to INS Kalyani (hospital) to receive medical assistance. “Responding quickly as a first responder and trusted global security partner, the Indian Navy team successfully rescued the Japanese sailor from a life-threatening situation. Operation MEDEVAC reflects strong international maritime cooperation between India and Japan. It is a critical emergency evacuation by the Indian Navy, 200 kilometers from Visakhapatnam city. It was not a drill,” the official spokesperson of the Eastern Naval Command said. The Hindu.
Published – February 14, 2026 11:17 pm IST