New Zealand Air Force Saves 3 Americans from the Glacée Gare

The Air Force of New Zealand has done a medical evacuation of almost 20 hours to save three Antarctic Americans, calling it a high-risk mission carried out in icy temperatures and total darkness.

The US National Science Foundation requested evacuation after three members of the McMurdo station staff were unable to receive adequate medical treatment on site.

One of the people needed urgent care, while the other two also needed medical care and were transported as a precaution, according to New Zealand.

Air Commodore Andy Scott, chief of the New Zealand air component, said that mid-winter flights to Antarctica are among the most difficult missions due to changing time, extremely cold and glacial landings in total darkness.

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The Air Force of New Zealand has executed a mission of almost 20 hours this week to evacuate three American researchers in Antarctica. (Royal New Zealand Air Force)

“The crew can only try the flight after a detailed analysis of the weather and the condition of the aerodrome,” said Scott. “The winter team of the Antarctic Program of the United States must physically create the track before you can leave by ensuring that the ice is neat and adapted to landing.

“Although they determine that it is safe, it is always an extremely difficult environment to fly on night vision glasses due to extreme weather conditions, which are very modifiable at this time of the year and make specific forecasts a challenge,” he added. “This, associated with the fact that there were no aerodromes available to detach themselves from once the plane passed a certain point to the south adds to the risk, so that these missions are not taken lightly.”

A medical team, including a doctor, accompanied the crew to provide flight care during the return to Christchurch.

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The Air Force of New Zealand has executed a mission of almost 20 hours this week to evacuate three American researchers in Antarctica. (Royal New Zealand Air Force)

The plane was pre-positioned from Auckland to Christchurch on Sunday, with a crew on standby for a meteorological window.

The crew made the decision on Tuesday to fly to Antarctica, working all night to complete the mission.

After landing on the ice track, the airplane engines remained on the move to prevent freezing during the refueling, the Air Force said.

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The Air Force of New Zealand has executed a mission of almost 20 hours this week to evacuate three American researchers in Antarctica. (Royal New Zealand Air Force)

The round-trip mission lasted 7 p.m., the plane approaching Christchurch on Wednesday morning.

Temperatures at McMurdo station fell to -11 ° F during the operation, adding to the already dangerous conditions.

Melissa Sweeney, American loading in New Zealand, praised the operation as “flawless”.

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“We are very grateful. Our Kiwi partners have not hesitated to undertake this mission in one of the most ruthless environments of the earth. Their competence and their preparation are really world class,” she said.

Reuters contributed to this report.