Plane on emergency dash to Antarctica

A New Zealand Air Force Orion is winging its way to Antarctica to evacuate a critically ill American man.

The aircraft was due to return to Christchurch tonight and the man would be admitted to Christchurch Hospital.

Antarctica New Zealand chief executive Lou Sanson told Radio New Zealand that Antarctica was still in the grip of winter with temperatures of about minus 35C - the coldest conditions an Orion would have landed in.

Medical evacuations were usually carried out by the larger Hercules aircraft.

It was critical that the aircraft arrived in the middle of the day to take the best advantage of the sun.

- NZPA