SYDNEY — The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) announced on Wednesday that it had successfully evacuated three individuals from the United States’ McMurdo Station in Antarctica, completing a high-risk mission in sub-zero temperatures and continuous darkness.
The rescue operation, conducted on Tuesday, included one person in urgent need of medical treatment and two others requiring medical attention. All three were flown to Christchurch, New Zealand, where the aircraft landed early Wednesday. The RNZAF did not disclose the nature of the medical emergencies or the nationalities of those evacuated.
Air Commodore Andy Scott described the mission as one of the most demanding for air crews, citing the extreme cold and the need to land on an ice runway in total darkness using night vision goggles. He noted that mid-winter conditions in Antarctica are highly unpredictable, making accurate weather forecasting difficult. During the operation, temperatures at McMurdo dropped as low as -24°C (-11°F), significantly complicating the 20-hour round-trip flight.
Melissa Sweeney, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to New Zealand, praised the RNZAF for the flawless execution of the mission. “We are deeply grateful. Our Kiwi partners didn’t hesitate to respond in one of the harshest environments on Earth. Their professionalism and preparedness are truly exceptional,” she said.
The RNZAF has conducted similar Antarctic medical evacuations in 2021 and 2024.
