In 2002, following the China Airlines Flight 611 disaster, the Air Force deployed a C-130H aircraft to a location 23 NM (43 km) northwest of Magong to conduct search and rescue (SAR) operations. After discovering the remnants of Flight 611, the Air Force fired flares for 8 consecutive nights to illuminate the site, launching a total of 25 sorties.
In 2014, the Taiwanese fishing vessel Yu-fa No.222 sank offshore of Yehliu (approximately 0.3 NM from the coast) after striking a reef. A joint rescue operation by the military and police rescued eight crew members and found one deceased. C-130H aircraft launched a total of 88 flares during the operation to assist rescue personnel by illuminating the skies.
On March 14, 2014, the Air Force deployed a C-130H on a sortie to Taiping Island to support the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. During the search, the aircraft enhanced search efforts by maintaining close contact with search and rescue vessels.
On October 10, 2014, after RV Ocean Researcher 5 struck a reef and sank, the Air Force deployed 2 C-130H aircraft to illuminate the seas by firing flares.
On February 5, 2018, a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter belonging to the National Air Service Corps of the Ministry of the Interior was deployed on an emergency medical mission; however, the helicopter lost contact 3 minutes after taking off from Lanyu Airport. In response, C-130H aircraft supported search efforts by firing flares to illuminate the night skies.