Staff board a U.S. Air Force C-17 as they prepare to take the season's first flight to McMurdo Station in Antarctica from Christchurch Airport, New Zealand, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020.
The first U.S. flight into Antarctica following months of winter darkness left from New Zealand Monday with crews extra vigilant about keeping out the coronavirus.
(AP Photo/Mark Baker)WELLINGTON ā The first U.S. flight into Antarctica following months of winter darkness left from New Zealand on Monday with crews taking extra precautions to keep out the coronavirus.
Antarctica is the only continent without the virus, and there is a global effort to make sure incoming scientists and workers donāt bring it with them.
The U.S. Air Force flight left from the gateway city of Christchurch carrying 106 passengers and crew, said Tony German, the U.S. Antarctic program's representative in New Zealand.