Royal New Zealand Air Force completes medical evacuation from Antarctica

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Hercules completed a successful Antarctic mission despite dwindling daylight. Photo / Justin Busbridge, Antarctica New Zealand

By RNZ

The Royal New Zealand Air Force has successfully completed the evacuation of a patient working with the US Antarctic Programme.

In a Facebook post, it said the C-130J Hercules completed the evacuation of one New Zealander from Antarctica.

“Our No 40 Squadron crew picked up a New Zealander who needed higher medical attention and delivered them to Christchurch tonight [Friday].”

It said the mission over 24 hours had been a success and coincided with the final sunset before winter on the continent.

“At this time of the year there are very narrow windows of favourable weather conditions, so the crew threaded the needle between weather systems and dwindling daylight to land at Phoenix Airfield on the Ross Ice Shelf, near McMurdo Station.”

It said the crew landed at the last sunrise about midday, and took off in twilight after the final sunset just after 2pm. The next sunrise at McMurdo Station and Scott Base is set to be on August 19.

In a post on X, the US Embassy to New Zealand said the “high-stakes” evacuation from McMurdo Station brought home a patient working with the US Antarctic Programme.

US Charge d’Affaires David Gehrenbeck expressed gratitude to New Zealand for its investment in “defence capabilities and exceptionally-skilled crews”.

“These missions are never routine – they demand precision, courage, and world-class capability every single time.

“This is what close partnership looks like in action.”

- RNZ