Search for missing plane in Antarctica
A search was under way in Antarctica yesterday for a plane carrying three Canadian crew that went missing in bad weather on a flight from the South Pole, New Zealand rescue authorities said.
The Twin Otter aircraft was on its way to the Italian Antarctic base at Terra Nova Bay when its emergency beacon was activated at about 10pm on Wednesday, said Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand. The beacon was transmitting from the Queen Alexandra Range, which lies in New Zealand's rescue zone.
The centre is co-ordinating the search with co-operation from US authorities at the McMurdo Antarctic station.
"There are winds of 90 knots at the site, and conditions are forecast to worsen with snow becoming heavier," said search co-ordinator John Ashby.
The US National Science Foundation said the plane belonged to Kenn Borek Air, a Canadian firm.
