Ardern's Antarctica flight turns back amid bad weather
October 25, 2022
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's plan for a four-day trip to Antarctica has been upended by bad weather on the cold, ice-covered continent.
The C130 Hercules military aircraft she was traveling on had to turn back midflight on Tuesday due to poor weather at McMurdo Sound, where several international research stations are based, a New Zealand government statement said.
"Safety is our number one focus when flying to the coldest, windiest, remotest place on Earth so this is not uncommon," a spokesperson for the government agency Antarctica New Zealand said.
It was not immediately clear whether Ardern would attempt to travel again once the weather clears.
What's the reason behind her trip?
The prime minister's visit was to mark the 65th anniversary of Scott Base — the nation's research station on the remote and frigid continent.
Ardern stressed New Zealand's commitment to Antarctic research last week.
"Antarctic research is urgently needed to understand past and future climates, how we are affecting Antarctica, and how Antarctica will affect us," she said.
New Zealand is one of seven countries, including Australia, France and Chile, with a territorial claim to Antarctica.
sri/jsi (dpa, Reuters)