WASHINGTON — Three people needing medical care were airlifted out from a U.S. scientific base in Antarctica this week during a perilous rescue mission.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force conducted the Antarctic rescue Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, according to statements from both New Zealand and the U.S.

The three people were rescued from McMurdo Station , an American research base on the southern tip of Ross Island. The station can support a population of up to 1,100 , but the number of people there often fluctuates dramatically depending on the season.

It's unclear what specific medical issues prompted the evacuation, but the flight went out to Antarctica with a doctor on board to care for the patients on the flight back to Christchurch, New Zealand, where the mission launc

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