Royal New Zealand Air Force completes medical evacuation from Antarctica

Wednesday 6 August 2025 · 7 outlets · 5 reports · updated Wed 6 Aug 2025, 2:11pm

In this story New Zealand Defence Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Hercules crew evacuated three people from the US McMurdo Station for medical care. The high-risk mission involved landing on ice during the night in extreme mid-winter conditions. The aircraft departed Christchurch to complete the nearly 8,000km journey.

How they headlined it

11:57am2:11pm

1. StuffWed 6 Aug 2025, 11:57am

   Air Force in ‘daring’ overnight medical evacuation mission in Antarctica (opens in new tab)

2. RNZWed 6 Aug 2025, 12:15pm

   Royal New Zealand Air Force evacuates three people from Antarctica for medical care (opens in new tab)

3. 1NewsWed 6 Aug 2025, 12:22pm

   Air Force pulls off 'courageous' medical evacuation from Antarctica (opens in new tab)

4. The PressWed 6 Aug 2025, 12:34pm

   ‘Daring, dangerous and deeply courageous’ - NZ Hercules crew completes Antarctic rescue (opens in new tab)

   Also on The Post (opens in new tab), Waikato Times (opens in new tab)

5. NZ HeraldWed 6 Aug 2025, 2:11pm

   Three evacuated from Antarctica in RNZAF daring mid-winter rescue (opens in new tab)