Samaritan Aviation

05/12/2026

When 3-year-old Konny fell from the veranda of his home along the May River, his family knew he needed help fast.

In a place where reaching care can take days, our floatplane landed on the river near their village. Konny and his family climbed aboard, and in minutes, they were on their way to the hospital.

There, he began to recover. His wounds healed, his strength returned, and before long, he was eating, walking, and acting like himself again.

But something else was taking place.

During their time there, his family kept coming back to hear more from our King of Glory series, a video program that explains the Gospel in their own language. They listened, asked questions, and leaned into the hope being shared around them.

Today, Konny has returned home with his family, completely healed. When distance stands in the way, a cost-free life-saving flight changes everything.

05/10/2026

A mother’s love shows up in countless quiet ways.

In sacrifice. In strength. In staying hopeful through fear and uncertainty.

Today, we honor the mothers who carry so much for the people they love. The ones who comfort, protect, nurture, and keep going even on the hardest days.

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Samaritan Aviation.

05/08/2026

A single moment changed everything for Chrill.

After being struck by a catapult dart, his injuries were life-threatening. In a place where reaching a hospital can take days by boat, time was not on his side.

But he wasn’t alone.

Chrill was flown to the care he needed. He received treatment. He recovered. And today, he shares his gratitude for the team who helped him and for the goodness and grace of God that carried him through.

Stories like Chrill’s are only possible because people choose to be part of them.

Compassion Crew is our monthly giving community. For $19 a month, you help make lifesaving flights possible for people who have no other way to reach care.

Join Compassion Crew at compassioncrew.org and help make the next story one of hope.

05/07/2026

A few weeks ago, we asked you to pray for a patient experiencing complications during labor. We are overjoyed to let you know that she and her baby are happy and healthy!

When Janie went into labor in Timbunmerie, something wasn’t right.

Her baby was in a dangerous position, and without access to advanced care nearby, both of their lives were at risk. Time mattered. So we flew her to the hospital.

What followed was a fragile and uncertain journey, but by God’s grace, her baby was delivered safely. There were moments of weakness in her recovery, but everything changed when she was finally able to hold her baby, alive and safe.

Together, they grew stronger, and today, mom and baby are doing well. They’ve been discharged and have returned home to their village.

What could have ended in loss became a story of life, because when it mattered most, a flight made all the difference.

05/06/2026

Do you feel lead to help serve with Samaritan Aviation in a hands-on way but don't feel called to long-term mission work? Our short term missions could be a great option for you, your church, or your aviation class! From plane maintenance to construction, we welcome skilled teams who can help further God's mission in Papua New Guinea. If you want to learn more, sign up for our newsletter for the next installment talking about the impact short-term missions have with us! Sign up now at samaritanaviation.org/newsletter!

05/05/2026

When Neon Steven, a 25-year-old from Pagwi, was injured, the seriousness of it was clear. He had a deep laceration to his abdomen—an injury that required more than basic care and would need surgery to properly treat.

We flew out to bring him to the hospital.

When he arrived, he was in pain and still feeling unwell. The nurses began caring for him right away, dressing the wound and giving medication to manage his pain while he waited for surgery. It wasn’t an immediate fix—there was waiting, uncertainty, and the need to stabilize him first—but he began to improve as he was cared for.

Before his surgery, our team spent time with him at his bedside. They prayed with him, committing both him and the operation ahead into the Lord’s hands. It was a quiet but significant moment in the middle of everything he was facing.

Alongside his physical care, Neon also watched the King of Glory series, a Bible story in Tok Pisin that walks through the message of Scripture and who Jesus is. As he listened, he followed the full story from beginning to end.

His surgery was successful, and in the days that followed, he continued to heal. By February 1, he had recovered enough to be discharged home.

What began as a serious abdominal injury required careful treatment, surgery, and time. but in the middle of it, Neon not only received the care he needed, he also heard the full story of the Gospel and was prayed over as he faced one of the most critical moments of his recovery.

05/03/2026

When a medical emergency happens in remote Papua New Guinea, there is often no road, no ambulance, and no way to reach care.

That’s where Compassion Crew steps in to help deliver life-saving care to those in urgent need. This community of monthly givers makes it possible to provide free emergency medical flights for people who would otherwise have no access, starting at just $19 a month.

When the call comes, the plane is ready because you chose to show up.

Join Compassion Crew today at compassioncrew.org

05/01/2026

It was an honor to share our story with Fox 13 Tampa Bay.

Mark recently had the opportunity to highlight what God is doing through Samaritan Aviation in the remote regions of Papua New Guinea. Every flight represents someone who couldn’t reach help on their own, and every story points back to the people who make it possible.

We’re grateful for the chance to share this mission and the lives behind it.

Read the full story here:

A Bay Area-based nonprofit is saving lives with seaplanes in Papua New Guinea.

04/30/2026

At just 10 months old, Kelly’s fight for life couldn’t wait.

In his village of Umawi, far from urgent medical care, he was battling both bacterial meningitis and malaria, and his tiny body was growing weaker by the hour. What could take days to reach by canoe became a matter of minutes as we flew Kelly and his family to the hospital.

When he arrived, he needed immediate care, so an IV drip was started and a feeding tube helped nourish his body while he awaited a blood transfusion and doctors worked to stabilize him.

Slowly, things began to change as his skin improved and his strength returned, and the same little boy who arrived so fragile began to look more like himself again.

Today, Kelly is doing well and has been discharged with the medicine he needs and the chance to keep growing, laughing, and living.

Because a flight didn’t just change his location. It changed his outcome.

04/29/2026

Strong leadership in aviation creates stability long before an emergency ever happens. In Papua New Guinea, aircraft reliability directly affects patient outcomes, crew safety, and the reach of the Gospel. The person leading maintenance sets the tone for all of it.

We are looking for an aviation professional whose expertise is matched by servant leadership and a clear sense of calling. This role requires technical excellence, steady oversight, and the ability to empower a team to operate at the highest standards.

If you are trained, experienced, and feel called to missionary work that will steward your skills for saving lives both physically and spiritually, we invite you to apply.

Learn more at samaritanaviation.org/join-the-team

04/28/2026

Not every medical flight ends the way we hope.

When Joe Perry, 52, from Kaningara 2 began experiencing severe swelling in his leg and abdomen, he became extremely weak. He struggled to eat, sit up, and care for himself. With no access to advanced medical care in his village, our team flew Joe to the hospital so doctors could determine what was causing his condition.

After evaluation, doctors delivered difficult news. Joe was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and there is no treatment available for his illness.

During his time in the hospital, our team spent time with Joe—offering encouragement, prayer, and the reminder that he is not alone during this difficult season.

Joe will now return home to Kaningara to spend his remaining days with his family.

While Samaritan Aviation often shares stories of recovery and healing, there are also moments like this. Moments where the greatest gift we can give is helping someone reach care, receive answers, and be surrounded by compassion and dignity as they return home to those they love.