Pit Stop Anchorage, Alaska: Captain Robert Trotter and First Officer Nicolas Sureau-Lopez on their way to deliver PPE to New York

Atlas Air Inc donated air cargo transport to fly critical personal protective equipment (PPE) to NYU Langone Health medical center in New York.

Two flights were operated for the mission, including one from Shanghai to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on April 9, and a second from Shanghai to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on April 13.

The Atlas Air-operated Boeing 747-400 freighters were filled with medical gowns, face shields and masks necessary to safeguard frontline responders dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

Atlas Air Worldwide’s headquarters is located in the New York area served by NYU Langone.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the accessibility of PPE for healthcare workers at NYU Langone Health, and across the world,” says Robert Grossman, MD, Chief Executive Officer of NYU Langone Health and dean of NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to Atlas Air for their extraordinary generosity, and for their efforts to ensure that our community is well-equipped in our ongoing battle against COVID-19.”

Since the coronavirus pandemic spread through New York City, care teams across NYU Langone Health’s system have selflessly devoted themselves to treating affected patients.

“We are grateful to our neighbor NYU Langone for treating those in our New York community, and are inspired by their medical teams who are on the front lines,” said John Dietrich, President and Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide.

“We are proud to do our part to help the frontline responders continue to meet the overwhelming needs of New York City and the surrounding area. We thank our extraordinary crewmembers and ground staff for their tireless efforts in making these relief missions possible.”