Additional Coverage:
In a daring rescue mission, the New Zealand Air Force braved frigid temperatures and total darkness to evacuate three Americans from Antarctica. The nearly 20-hour operation, requested by the U.S.
National Science Foundation, transported the individuals from McMurdo Station to Christchurch, New Zealand. One person required urgent care, while the other two were evacuated as a precaution.
Air Commodore Andy Scott, head of New Zealand’s air component, highlighted the extreme challenges of mid-winter Antarctic flights. He described the meticulous planning required, including analysis of weather patterns and the pre-flight preparation of the ice runway by the U.S.
Antarctic Program Winter Team. Flying with night vision goggles in unpredictable weather, with no alternative landing sites available, added significant risk to the mission.
A medical team, including a physician, accompanied the crew to provide in-flight care. The rescue aircraft, pre-positioned in Christchurch with a crew on standby, departed Tuesday and landed on a specially prepared ice runway. To prevent the aircraft’s engines from freezing, they were kept running during refueling.
The round-trip mission concluded Wednesday morning, lasting 19.5 hours. Temperatures at McMurdo Station plummeted to -11°F during the operation.
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to New Zealand, Melissa Sweeney, commended the “flawless” operation and expressed gratitude for the New Zealand Air Force’s skill and willingness to undertake such a challenging mission.