A crew member from the Disney Wonder was airlifted after the cruise ship requested a medical evacuation while navigating off the coast of British Columbia during an Alaska itinerary. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) responded to the emergency on September 8, 2026, shortly after the ship had departed Vancouver for a week-long cruise. The incident occurred approximately 113 miles northwest of Port Hardy, placing the vessel about 327 miles from Vancouver.
The RCAF’s 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron utilized a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and a CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft for the operation. Video footage revealed search-and-rescue technicians being lowered onto the ship’s bow to assist the injured crew member, who has not been publicly identified, nor has the nature of their injury been disclosed. Communications during the operation indicated that the ship’s crew was instructed to reduce speed and turn off radar to facilitate the evacuation.
Following the successful airlift, the injured crew member was transported to Comox and subsequently transferred to a British Columbia Emergency Health Services helicopter for further medical attention. Despite this incident, the Disney Wonder continued its scheduled itinerary without disruption, visiting ports including Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before returning to Vancouver on September 14.
