Photo: MARK RALSTON / AFP / Getty Images
Three researchers from the U.S. McMurdo Station in Antarctica were medically evacuated this week in a challenging 20-hour rescue mission conducted by the Royal New Zealand Air Force. One researcher required urgent medical care, while the other two also needed attention. Their names and specific medical conditions were not disclosed.
The rescue operation faced extreme cold and rapidly changing weather conditions. The crew had to land a C-130J Hercules plane, weighing about 160,000 pounds, on ice in the dark. According to the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the crew used night vision goggles to navigate the flight, which was made more difficult by the lack of airfields to divert to once the aircraft reached a certain point south.
The U.S. National Science Foundation requested the emergency evacuation, and the researchers were flown to Christchurch, New Zealand, where they are receiving treatment. The operation included "hot refueling," where the plane was refueled while the engines remained running.
Air Component Commander Air Commodore Andy Scott noted the mission's complexity, highlighting the need for detailed weather analysis and runway preparation by the U.S. Antarctic Program Winter Team. Temperatures at McMurdo Station were as low as -24 Celsius (-11 Fahrenheit) during the operation.