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Inside the high-risk operation at an Antarctic research base

Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel during the medical evacuation in Antarctica
Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel during the medical evacuation in Antarctica (New Zealand Defence Force)
  • Three individuals were evacuated from the US McMurdo Station in Antarctica due to medical emergencies.
  • The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) conducted a high-risk, 20-hour operation in freezing temperatures and complete darkness.
  • The challenging mission involved landing on an ice runway in -24 Celsius conditions, requiring exceptional skill from the aircrew.
  • The evacuees were transported from the Antarctic base to Christchurch, New Zealand, on Wednesday morning.
  • US Chargé d'Affaires Melissa Sweeney praised the RNZAF for the 'flawless' execution of the mission in one of Earth's most unforgiving environments.
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