Three researchers at the U.S. McMurdo Station in Antarctica have been evacuated in a “challenging,” nearly 20-hour medical emergency rescue mission this week conducted by the Royal New Zealand Air Force, officials said on Wednesday.
One of the researchers needed urgent medical care, and two others also needed medical attention, according to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). Their names were not released.
The rescuers faced a daunting task, dealing with extreme cold, rapidly changing weather conditions and having to land a C-130J Hercules rescue plane, which weighs about 160,000 pounds, on the ice and in the dark, according to the RNZAF.
“The crew can only attempt the flight after 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,” Andy Scott, the RNZAF’s Air Component Commander Commodore, said in a statement.
“Although they determine it is safe, it’s still an extremely challenging environment to fly in on Night Vision Goggles due to the extreme weather conditions, which are highly changeable at this time of year and makes accurate forecasting a challenge,” Scott said.
The medical conditions of the three researchers, all members of the U.S. National Science Foundation, were not disclosed. They arrived in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Wednesday, where they were being treated at a hospital, according to the RNZAF.
The air force crew, which included a medical officer on board the flight, flew through the night on Tuesday to reach Antarctica, officials said. Once the aircraft landed safely, the crew kept the engines running while simultaneously refueling, a process known as “hot refueling,” according to the RNZAF.
The plane was on the ground long enough to quickly refuel, evacuate the three patients to the aircraft and take off back to New Zealand, officials said. The total operation took about 19.5 hours, officials said.
“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.
