Response Plus launches Challenger 605 long-range air ambulance from Abu Dhabi
Response Plus launches Challenger 605 long-range air ambulance from Abu Dhabi, offering ICU-level care in flight and 4,000 nm transcontinental medevac reach.
The Abu Dhabi-based healthcare logistics firm Response Plus Holding has launched a long-range air ambulance service using a Challenger 605 specially configured for medical evacuation. The aircraft, announced at the Make in UAE 2026 platform, is equipped to operate as an airborne intensive care unit and is intended to cut transit times for critically ill patients across continents. Company chief executive Dr. Rohil Raghavan said the service represents a step change in regional medevac capability and in the delivery of complex care outside hospital walls.
Response Plus launches long-range air ambulance from Abu Dhabi
Dr. Rohil Raghavan confirmed the new service is the first long-range air ambulance operation originating from Abu Dhabi, delivered in partnership with an international aviation-medical specialist. He said the move aligns with the company’s decade-plus experience in pre-hospital care and its strategy to expand services beyond fixed healthcare facilities. The announcement was made during the fifth edition of the Make in UAE 2026 platform, underlining industry support for advanced medical logistics in the Emirates.
Challenger 605 configured as airborne intensive care unit
The Challenger 605 used for the service has been retrofitted to house full intensive care equipment and monitoring systems to support high-acuity patients in flight. Response Plus describes the cabin layout as a fully integrated ICU, permitting ventilatory support, advanced cardiac monitoring and infusion therapy during long-haul transfers. Medical teams are trained to operate in this environment so patients receive continuity of critical care from bedside to bedside.
Operational range and transcontinental routes
The company reports the aircraft’s maximum operational range at approximately 4,000 nautical miles, enabling nonstop medevac missions to destinations in the United States, Europe and Asia. That extended reach is intended to reduce transfer times and simplify logistics when patients require specialised treatment not available locally. Flight routing and patient destinations will be determined by clinical need, diplomatic clearances and aviation operating constraints.
Service models including private jets and commercial escort options
Response Plus will offer both dedicated private medevac flights and medical-escort services on scheduled commercial airlines to accommodate varying clinical and budgetary needs. On commercial-escort missions, specialised medical teams and portable critical-care equipment accompany patients to ensure in-flight stability and continuity of care. The dual-model approach is designed to provide flexibility for repatriations, inter-facility transfers and urgent global evacuations.
Early operational statistics and flight hours logged
Since operations began, the long-range air ambulance has logged roughly 158 flight hours, including multiple international missions and several dozen commercial-escort transfers. Those early operational figures reflect a rapid uptake of the service across a range of clinical scenarios, according to the company. Response Plus highlighted that the initial hours have been used to validate onboard protocols, refine team workflows and establish international ground-handling partnerships.
Strategic aims to expand pre-hospital care and regional capacity
The launch forms part of Response Plus’s broader strategy to scale healthcare delivery outside traditional hospital settings and to fortify Abu Dhabi’s position as a regional health and emergency-services hub. The firm believes long-range medevac capacity will improve survival chances for time-sensitive cases by shortening transit times and preserving clinical continuity. Officials say the service will complement existing hospital networks, emergency responders and international partners to create a more resilient medical-evacuation ecosystem.
The company plans to continue expanding its air-medical fleet and ground support capabilities as demand grows, while maintaining regulatory compliance and clinical governance standards. Early results will inform further investments in equipment, crew training and operational reach to meet the region’s evolving needs. Stakeholders in health and aviation will be watching how the new long-range air ambulance service affects patient outcomes and cross-border emergency care coordination.
