Recovery operation planned in Antarctica
Recovery operation planned in Antarctica
The search and rescue mission involving a Twin Otter
aircraft missing in Antarctica since Wednesday with three
crew on board has moved into a recovery phase, after
wreckage of the plane was located on Saturday.
The
aircraft wreckage is on a very steep slope, close to the
summit of Mt Elizabeth at the northern end of the Queen
Alexandra Range – halfway between the South Pole and
McMurdo Station (approximately 680km or 370 nautical miles
in each direction). It appears to have made a direct impact
that was not survivable.
No details are
available on the cause of the crash.
The next of
kin have been informed.
Two helicopters, including
a Southern Lakes helicopter on contract to Scott Base,
reached the site at around 7.15pm (NZ time) yesterday, after
travelling from McMurdo Base to a forward base at Beardmore
Glacier, about 50km from the crash site. They were able to
survey the site briefly and identify the plane
wreckage.
The Unified Incident Command, a joint
United States Antarctica Programme and Antarctica New
Zealand incident management unit, is now leading the
recovery effort.
The unit is currently planning
its approach to the recovery mission, which is expected to
be a difficult undertaking due to the remote and difficult
access to the site of the crash, at a height of 3,900m
(13,000 feet). Weather conditions in the area are currently
good, with light winds and scattered cloud.
The
intention is to return the men’s bodies to New Zealand
and, from there, repatriate them to
Canada.
RCCNZ Operations Manager John Seward said all those
involved had worked hard on the rescue mission in
challenging conditions since Wednesday and it had been a
real team effort. He said hopes were held throughout the
operation for a positive outcome for the three Canadians,
who were very experienced and well-resourced.
RCCNZ’s thoughts are with the families of the
crew.
ENDS