New Zealand’s air force executed a challenging nearly 20-hour medical evacuation to retrieve three American individuals from Antarctica. The mission was considered high-risk due to freezing temperatures and complete darkness.

The U.S. National Science Foundation initiated the evacuation request because three personnel at McMurdo Station could not obtain the necessary medical treatment at the facility.

One of the individuals needed immediate medical attention, while the other two were also evacuated for safety reasons, as stated by New Zealand’s air force.

Air Commodore Andy Scott, the head of New Zealand’s air force component, mentioned that winter flights to Antarctica pose significant challenges because of unpredictable weather, severe cold, and icy landings conducted in dark conditions.

New Zealand’s air force executed a nearly 20-hour mission this week to evacuate three U.S. researchers in Antarctica. (Royal New Zealand Air Force)

The round-trip mission lasted 19.5 hours, with the aircraft touching down in Christchurch on Wednesday morning.

Temperatures at McMurdo Station dropped to -11°F during the operation, adding to the already dangerous conditions.

Melissa Sweeney, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to New Zealand, praised the operation as “flawless.”

“We are incredibly thankful. Our Kiwi partners did not hesitate to take on this mission in one of the harshest environments globally. Their expertise and preparedness are of the highest standard,” she commented.