Pacific Mission Aviation Supports Samaritan’s Purse in Rapid Response to Super Typhoon Sinlaku

Wednesday, April 22, 2026, /// DYCA PIO

Yap FM - Last week Friday, April 17th, Pacific Mission Aviation (PMA) joined Samaritan’s Purse in providing rapid assistance to the Northern Mariana Islands following the impact of Super Typhoon Sinlaku. As the storm caused significant disruption across the region, Samaritan’s Purse mobilized its Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and prepared its newly commissioned Boeing 767 to deliver relief supplies and personnel.

PMA, a long-time partner of Samaritan’s Purse in the Western Pacific, remained in close

communication with DART leadership as the situation unfolded. Although PMA’s aircraft were based more than 420 miles southwest of Guam, the organization immediately offered support.

On Friday morning, Samaritan’s Purse formally requested PMA’s assistance. By Saturday afternoon, PMA pilots Mark Abbott and Amos Collins departed Yap in the King Air 200—an aircraft gifted to PMA by Samaritan’s Purse in 2021—and repositioned to Guam to support the response.

At sunrise on Sunday, PMA transported two DART teams to Saipan, becoming the first NGO aircraft to arrive after the storm. This early arrival allowed assessment teams to begin work quickly and coordinate with local officials and community leaders. Later that morning, DART requested an additional mission to move personnel and the Saipan Health

team to Tinian for a hospital and clinic assessment. PMA launched again that afternoon, completing the transport and supporting a 1.5-hour evaluation that confirmed the clinic remained stable.

As PMA returned to Saipan, the Samaritan’s Purse Boeing 767 arrived from Kona, Hawaii, carrying relief supplies. With assistance from the U.S. military’s K-Loader, the aircraft’s cargo was offloaded and prepared for distribution to affected communities.

PMA will complete one additional transport flight to Saipan on Monday morning before returning to Yap to meet previously scheduled commitments.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to support Samaritan’s Purse and the people of the Northern

Mariana Islands,” PMA leadership shared. “When our region faces hardship, we want to be present and ready to help. Serving our neighbors is at the heart of our mission.”

Pacific Mission Aviation continues to serve communities across Micronesia and the Western Pacific through medical flights, disaster response, and humanitarian support.

(For more information, please contact the Pacific Mission Aviation at 350-2360)