On January 15, 2026, a STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society) air ambulance from the Winnipeg base was dispatched to a medical emergency near Altona, Manitoba. The flight crew landed at the scene to provide advanced care and, if necessary, transport the patient to a hospital in Winnipeg.
The STARS air ambulance arrived in the afternoon to assist local emergency crews. Members of Altona Rhineland Emergency Services helped set up a safe landing zone for the helicopter while the Altona Police Service managed traffic in the area.
This type of response, known as a scene call, involves the aircraft landing directly near the site of an emergency rather than at a hospital helipad. STARS uses the Airbus H145 helicopter, equipped as a mobile intensive care unit, to stabilize patients during flight.
Residents may have noticed increased noise and temporary road restrictions while crews worked to secure the area. These missions are coordinated through Shared Health Manitoba and the province’s Medical Transportation Coordination Centre to ensure people in rural communities can reach specialized hospital care quickly.
Information regarding the patient’s condition has not been released due to privacy reasons. STARS typically averages about two missions per day in Manitoba.
