Search Called Off

When Antarctica was first explored, a return home was not guaranteed. In some cases, it wasn't even expected. But since humans first made landfall on the Antarctic continent, the goal has always been to make Antarctica ever more accessible and safe. Permanent bases have been established, treaties have been signed, regulations have been dictated, and seasoned explorers have been employed to guide the newly initiated. At times, the degree of regulation over our activities here is frustrating. But at times, like this past weekend, we are reminded that Antarctica, despite the presence of humans for over a century, is a hostile place with deadly tendencies.

For anyone who's been following the news, or for anyone who hasn't:

On the evening of January 23rd, last Wednesday, McMurdo communications received word that a KBA DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, bound for the Italian station at Terra Nova from the South Pole with three Canadian crew members, had lost communications and was missing over the Transantarctic Mountains. An emergency beacon was activated but there was no indication whether it was done manually by the crew or automatically by a crash. Search and rescue (SAR) was immediately dispatched but they were continually hampered by low visibility, blowing snow, and mountain winds up to 100 knots. In the meantime, details emerged. The beacon was transmitting from 3,900 meters (nearly 13,000 feet). A remote monitoring system had shown the plane, with its experienced pilot and crew, on its designated course at 4000 meters. It suddenly dropped to 2,700 meters, then pulled back up at 140 knots before abruptly halting at 3900 meters.

Finally, on Friday morning, the clouds broke. A LC-130 immediately flew out to a field camp 50 kilometers from the crash site with 1250 pounds of fuel. Two others followed closely with additional fuel and supplies to support the two helicopters and two small planes that were then able to commence searching. The tail wreckage was spotted late Friday morning on a steep slope near the summit of Mount Elizabeth in the Queen Alexandra range, a notoriously stormy and unpredictable area. There were no signs of activity around the crash site. Aerial reconnaissance took place through Friday and Saturday.

On Sunday, SAR crews were able to land helicopters 300 meters above the crash site and make their way down around avalanches and crevasses. They recovered some equipment, including the cockpit voice recorder, which was located in the tail of the plane. The cabin was partially collapsed and filled in with packed snow, and a crushed and leaking fuel tank prevented any chance of entry to the cabin and cockpit. After a full evaluation of the site, it was determined that it was very unsafe for the SAR team to continue operations.

The flight crew remains missing, but analysis indicated the crash would have not have been survivable. As Antarctica begins its descent into winter, the search for the bodies has been called off until next season. A message from the McMurdo Area Manager today read: "All EOC [Emergency Operations Center] are now focused on the safe return of the deployed support aircraft and JSART [Joint Antarctic Search and Rescue] teams to McMurdo and Scott Base."

Please, if you have a moment, spare a thought or a prayer for the families of those lost:

Bob Heath, Inuvik

Perry Andersen, Collingwood

Mike Denton, Calgary