An Australian aviation crew from Skytraders conducted a daring midwinter medical evacuation of a US expedition member from McMurdo Station in Antarctica. The mission took place on Friday, July 31, 2026, after an urgent request for help.

The crew faced extreme challenges, including total darkness and temperatures of -43°C (-45.4°F). After an initial weather delay, the team successfully landed their Airbus A319, known as Snowbird 1, on the compacted snow runway of Ross Island, which required extensive grading and grooming by ground crews.

Captain Louise Robertson, one of four pilots on the flight departing from Hobart, Tasmania, told the BBC this was the first such rescue to occur in July and under complete darkness. She noted, "We completed it on the 31 July, and the first day of any sort of sunlight, which was very minimal, would be on the 1 August."

Her husband, Rod Robertson, piloted the landing at the US research station. Captain Robertson described the operation as the most complex she had experienced in her 25 years as a pilot and seven years with Skytraders.

After safely transferring the patient onto the plane, Snowbird 1 flew to Christchurch, New Zealand, where the patient received medical treatment.

Captain Al Wallach, another pilot on the mission, highlighted the specialist expertise involved, including flight crews, meteorologists, planners, runway teams, and medical personnel. He said, "Every Antarctic mission demands absolute precision, but winter operations raise the complexity significantly. The conditions we encountered were right on the edge of even the most specialised aircraft capability."

The mission required 24 hours to configure the plane with a stretcher and an additional 12-hour wait for a suitable weather window before takeoff.

Sources