Evacuation of 3 from Antarctica base successful despite dangerous conditions

Three people were evacuated from a US research base in Antarctica during a high-risk operation in round-the-clock darkness and sub-zero temperatures, according to authorities.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force conducted the perilous operation Tuesday afternoon after the United Nations Science Foundation requested a medical evaluation for three staff members at McMurdo Station, including one who needed urgent medical help, the RNZAF said in a statement Wednesday.

A crew aboard the C-130J Hercules braved total darkness and bone-chilling temperatures to reach the station overnight, authorities said.

Flights conducted in the continent’s mid-winter season, which is between March and October, are often the most dangerous due to varying weather conditions and on-ice landings, Air Component Commander Air Commodore Andy Scott said.

“The crew can only attempt the flight after a detailed analysis of the weather and airfield state. The United States Antarctic Program Winter Team must physically create the runway before we can depart by ensuring the ice is groomed and suitable for landing,” Scott said in a statement.

Although the team determines if the flight and landing can be carried out safely, it can still be “extremely challenging” to fly using night vision goggles, the commander added.

“This, coupled with there being no airfields available to divert to once the aircraft is past a certain point south, adds to the risk, so these missions are not taken lightly,” Scott said.

A doctor was aboard the flight to provide medical assistance to the research staff, whose ailments were not immediately known, according to the RNZAF.

The plane landed in Christchurch on Wednesday morning after completing the nearly 20-hour harrowing round trip, authorities added.

The US Embassy in New Zealand later expressed its gratitude for the air force crews’ courageous mission.

“This mission wasn’t just difficult; it was one of the most technically demanding operations an aircrew can face. In extreme conditions, with little margin for error, the RNZAF executed this mid-winter Antarctic medevac flawlessly,” the embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, Melissa Sweeney, said in a statement.

“This required absolute precision. It was daring, dangerous, and deeply courageous. This is the kind of mission that tests every ounce of skill and bravery. RNZAF delivered, just as they always do,” Sweeney said.