Researchers rescued after Antarctica crash

Ten American researchers and support staff were marooned when their plane crash-landed at a field camp in Antarctica.

The group was being flown by a ski-equipped DC3 from a snow runway near Mount Patterson on Thursday when the plane got into difficulties and was damaged when it made an emergency landing. The plane was left unable to fly, stranding the passengers who had been installing a series of remote seismic sensors on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

McMurdo Station immediately launched a search and rescue operation and worked through Thursday night.

Two Twin Otter aircraft landed at the site to collect the group, 18 hours after the initial stranding. The McMurdo Station representative for the National Science Foundation (NSF) declined to comment on reports that some of the 10 passengers suffered minor injuries and were flown to Christchurch yesterday. A Christchurch Hospital spokeswoman could not confirm whether injured passengers had been brought into the emergency department.

- © Fairfax NZ News