Australian aviation crew carries out daring midwinter Antarctica rescue - BBC News

Team evacuated a patient from McMurdo Station after landing plane in total darkness and temperature of -43°C.

Image source, Supplied: Louise RobertsonImage caption, Husband and wife pilots Captains Rod and Louise Robertson on their way to Christchurch after flying their rescue mission to Antarctica

An Australian aviation crew has carried out a daring midwinter mission to rescue a US expedition member from a station in Antarctica in freezing temperatures and total darkness.

Skytraders said the "extraordinary" mission took place last Friday after a request for urgent help with a medical evacuation from McMurdo Station.

After an initial delay due to the weather, the aviation company said it was able to land its Airbus A319 in "extremely challenging conditions" including temperatures of -43C (-45.4F).

The patient was then safely transferred onto the plane, known as Snowbird 1, which carried on to Christchurch in New Zealand, where the patient was treated. He is now recovering well.