The New Zealand Air Force conducted a nearly 20-hour medical evacuation mission to rescue three Americans from Antarctica. The New Zealand Air Force described it as a high-risk operation carried out in extreme cold and complete darkness.
Due to the inability of the three workers at the U.S. McMurdo Station in Antarctica to receive adequate medical treatment on site, the U.S. National Science Foundation requested medical evacuation assistance from New Zealand.
Officials from the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) stated on Wednesday, August 6th, that the three researchers at McMurdo Station were successfully evacuated in a “challenging” medical emergency rescue mission carried out by the New Zealand Air Force. One of the researchers required urgent medical treatment, while the other two also needed medical care. The names of the rescue personnel have not been disclosed.
According to the New Zealand Air Force, the rescue team faced a daunting task, having to deal with extreme cold, rapidly changing weather conditions, and landing a C-130J Hercules rescue aircraft weighing approximately 160,000 pounds on the ice in darkness. Air Force officials released photos of the rescue flight on August 6, 2025.
“The flight crew could only attempt the flight after a detailed analysis of the weather and airport conditions. The U.S. Antarctic Program’s winter team had to build the runway themselves, ensuring a smooth surface on the ice for takeoff. said Air Vice-Marshal Andy Scott, Commander of the Air Force’s Air Component.
“Even though they determined it was safe, flying with night vision goggles remains challenging due to the extreme weather conditions, and the unpredictable weather changes at this time of year pose a significant challenge to accurately predicting weather conditions,” Scott said.
He added, “Furthermore, with no available alternate airports south of a certain point once they crossed, this undoubtedly increased the risk, making this mission no small feat.”
The aircrew, including a medical officer, arrived in Antarctica overnight on Tuesday. According to the New Zealand Air Force, after the safe landing of the aircraft, the crew performed a procedure known as “hot refueling,” where the engines are kept running while refueling.
The time spent on the ground was long enough to quickly refuel, evacuate the three patients onto the aircraft, and then take off back to New Zealand. Officials said the entire operation took approximately 19.5 hours.
During the flight, the temperature at McMurdo Station dropped to -11°F (-11 degrees Celsius), making the already hazardous weather even more challenging.
All three researchers are members of the U.S. National Science Foundation. According to the New Zealand Air Force, they arrived in Christchurch, New Zealand on Wednesday and are receiving treatment at a local hospital.
U.S. Charge d’Affaires in New Zealand, Melissa Sweeney, lauded the rescue operation as “flawless.”
“We are very grateful. Our New Zealand partners acted without hesitation in executing this mission in one of the harshest environments on Earth. Their skills and level of preparedness are truly world-class,” she said.