In a groundbreaking fusion of aviation and medicine, China’s domestically developed C909 airplane hospital has successfully completed its first-ever in-air eye surgery — marking a historic milestone for airborne medical innovation.
The specialized medical aircraft, built on the platform of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) C909 regional jet, is the country’s first aircraft fully converted into a flying hospital.
According to official reports, the delicate ophthalmic procedure was carried out mid-flight by a team of expert surgeons inside a fully equipped airborne operating theatre.
The successful operation demonstrates the aircraft’s advanced medical configuration, which includes surgical lighting, life-support systems, sterile workspaces, and precision monitoring equipment adapted for flight conditions.
Aviation and health experts describe the achievement as a major leap in rapid-response medical capability.
The C909 hospital aircraft is designed to provide emergency treatment, disaster response support, and specialized care in remote or crisis-affected regions where ground facilities may be inaccessible.
“This is more than symbolic,” one analyst noted.
“It proves complex surgical procedures can be safely conducted in controlled airborne environments.”
The milestone also signals China’s growing ambition to integrate aerospace engineering with public health infrastructure — expanding the role of aircraft beyond transport to life-saving intervention.
With the first in-air eye surgery now successfully recorded, the C909 flying hospital may soon redefine emergency medical logistics, bringing advanced healthcare directly to the skies.
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