- Australian Antarctic Division and aviation partner Skytraders conducted a challenging midwinter medical evacuation from Antarctica at the request of the US Antarctic Program.
- The AAD's A319 aircraft left Hobart in the early hours of Friday morning, 31 July, with a medical team on board.
- The aircraft arrived at McMurdo station five hours later in complete darkness.
- Despite temperatures dipping as low as -43°C, the crew transferred the patient onto the plane and flew to Christchurch.
- On Thursday, at least 30 Yemeni government troops were killed in Houthi attacks on military camps in Yemen, with the death toll possibly rising to 58.
- A Saudi official accused the Houthis of indiscriminately shelling civilian areas in Saudi Arabia, injuring 11 civilians.
- A senior Saudi official warned of imminent coordinated attacks from the north and south by Iraqi militias and Houthis.
The Australian Antarctic Division and Skytraders executed a complex midwinter medical evacuation from Antarctica, retrieving a US expeditioner under extreme conditions. The AAD's A319 aircraft departed Hobart early on July 31, arriving at McMurdo Station in complete darkness.123
With temperatures plummeting to −43°C, the crew successfully transferred the patient and flew to Christchurch. Emma Campbell, Head of Division, emphasized the operation's complexity and the importance of international partnerships in Antarctic missions. Captain Al Wallach noted that the mission's success was due to years of preparation and coordination among various teams.4
In Yemen, Houthi attacks on military camps resulted in the deaths of at least 30 Yemeni government troops, with some reports indicating the toll could rise to 58. The Houthis claimed responsibility for missile and drone strikes in Marib and Hadramout provinces, targeting military assets amid a Saudi military buildup.5
In a separate incident, a Saudi official reported that Houthi shelling injured 11 civilians in southern Najran province, including a four-year-old child. Maj General Turki al-Maliki stated that the coalition would take necessary measures to protect civilians. A senior Saudi official warned of imminent coordinated attacks from the Houthis and Iraqi militias, indicating potential targets could include civilian and economic sites.67
“The AAD's A319 aircraft flew from Hobart to McMurdo in complete darkness, with temperatures as low as -43°C, before transferring the patient to Christchurch. Separately, Houthi attacks on Yemeni military camps killed at least 30 troops, with the death toll possibly reaching 58, and Saudi Arabia warned of imminent coordinated attacks.”
BBC
