Mallorca Mountain Rescue: 115 Rescues and the Impact of a New Helicopter (Summer 2025)

Between May and September the mountain rescue services on Mallorca had to respond 115 times. A new helicopter has sped up many rescues — but the missions also show how easily tourists and locals can get into trouble.

More missions, faster help: The balance sheet of Mallorca's mountain rescue

Between May and the end of September the mountain rescue groups on Mallorca were alerted a total of 115 times. That is noticeably more than in the quiet summers before — at least in the regions where narrow paths in the Serra de Tramuntana and the gorges around Sa Calobra attract hikers and climbers.

What lies behind the numbers?

The reasons, as heard on site, are typical: overheating on hot afternoons, dislocated joints after falls on scree paths, but also people losing their bearings when they underestimate hiking maps. Those seeking help were reported particularly often between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., when the sun was strongest and the trails busiest.

A small, personal impression: one late August afternoon I saw paramedics at a car park near Valldemossa sorting water bottles out of trunks. It seems banal — but it shows how often thirst and exhaustion mark the beginning of an operation.

The helicopter makes the difference

Since the beginning of August the new rescue helicopter "Milana" has been in operation. The effect is immediately measurable: missions that previously took up to five hours — with foot marches and complex stretcher operations — now often last only around 20 minutes. Especially in inaccessible terrain this can save lives, because the injured are taken to hospitals more quickly.

That does not mean every mission is now simple. Deployment, coordination with ground teams and weather checks remain complex. Still: when a helicopter takes off from Palma and lands at the Torrent de Pareis within minutes, it considerably reduces the burden on everyone involved.

Who is behind it?

The missions are carried out by a mix of professional rescue personnel, volunteer mountain rescuers and other emergency services. In the mountains experienced teams work hand in hand – often with local knowledge that one has to acquire on site. Without this expertise the number of successful recoveries would certainly be lower.

A glimpse of everyday life: Many locals know the short climbs that initially seem harmless. For visitors the same sections can quickly become risky if drinking breaks are skipped or the wrong footwear is chosen.

What can hikers do?

A few simple rules are easy to remember: pack enough water, tell someone your planned route, pay attention to break times and turn back in uncertain weather. A fully charged phone with emergency numbers is worth its weight in gold — although reception in some valleys of course remains patchy.

The verdict of this summer is therefore twofold: more missions, but also faster rescues thanks to modern technology and well-trained teams. Good to know — for everyone who next time answers the call of the mountains and wants to discover the island from above.