Overview

• A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Hercules evacuated a critical patient and two others from McMurdo Station at the U.S. National Science Foundation’s request.
• Crews completed a 19.5-hour round trip in –24 °C temperatures and total darkness, using night-vision goggles to land on an ice runway prepared by the U.S. Antarctic Program Winter Team.
• U.S. Antarctic Program Winter Team physically groomed the ice runway before the flight, and crews performed hot refuelling on the ice to sustain the return leg.
• A New Zealand Defence Force doctor on board provided in-flight care to the evacuees throughout the mission.
• Drawing on similar successful missions in 2021 and 2024, RNZAF crews showcased international cooperation and world-class expertise praised as flawless by U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Melissa Sweeney.