Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos

Man missing after jumping off FERNANDES II off St Julian's A man who jumped off a Short Sea Ferry boat (Turkish Gullet) into the sea off St Julian's late last night remains missing at sea, sources have said.  The FERNANDES II was returning to shore after a boat party with an open bar when the man and five others out of group of 7 male persons jumped off the boat into the sea after midnight. While five of the six made it ashore, the sixth person, believed to be a Frenchman, never surfaced with wind blowing North Westerly Force 5-6. He was also missing from his Swieqi residence. Ages varies 19-21 years. A late night helicopter search and rescue operation failed to find the man and an AFM helicopter was dispatched again this morning to continue the search together with Melita SAR Launch Images of AFM AW139 Helicopter; FERNANDES II; and MELITA II SAR Launch - www.maltashipphotos.com

AIRCRAFT OF THE DAY - Italian Airforce HH-139A The Italian Air Force HH-139A is a search-and rescue variant of AW139M helicopter. The HH-139A has been selected as an interim solution for the Italian Air Force’s SAR fleet replacement and modernization programme. The all new AW149, now under development, has been designed to meet a potential Italian Air Force requirement for a new medium class SAR helicopter with certification expected in 2013. The Italian Air Force joins a number of other military customers who are already operating the AW139 including the Irish Air Corps, the United Arab Emirates Air Force and the Qatar Armed Forces. The Italian Air Force’s HH-139A features an all new heavy duty landing gear providing higher ground clearance and improved crashworthiness, secure communications suite including IFF and an integrated defensive aids suite. The aircraft is also equipped with the following role equipment - rescue hoist, search light, wire cutters, nose mounted FLI...