New Zealand Prime
Minister’s C-130 plane breaks down in Antarctica
By
30 October 2022
The RNZAF
C130 Hercules meant to fly Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern back to New Zealand
from Antarctica on Friday night sits on the runway with crew and maintenance
staff inspecting its broken-down engine. Photo: Supplied / Mike Scott
New Zealand
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has arrived back in the country from Antarctica,
but not on the Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H Hercules she arrived on.
The prime
minister has been in Scott Base this week, marking the 65th anniversary of the
site.
27 October
2022 Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with her partner Clarke Gayford in
Antarctica. Photo: Pool /Mike Scott
She was
originally scheduled to leave on 28 October, but was unable to due to a
mechanical problem with the NZ Air Force Hercules. The plane broke down and was
unable to make the journey back.
Instead, an
Italian C-130 Hercules returned Ardern and her entourage to Christchurch on 29
October afternoon.
A New
Zealand Defence Force spokesperson blamed the breakdown on the C-130H being on
the ground in Antarctica for two days: “Experience
has shown that cold temperatures can cause the aircraft propeller seals to have
issues on start-up due to congealing hydraulic fluid and seal rigidity. To
mitigate this issue propeller heaters are used and a methodical pre-flight
process is used to warm the aircraft to a suitable operating temperature.”
The
spokesperson said it was unfortunate these steps had not worked this time. “The C130H
will be repaired and is expected to return to New Zealand in the next few days.”
This is the
second travel issue the prime minister has had on her Antarctica trip – her
original flight was turned around due to bad weather.
New Zealand
has ordered five new Super Hercules aircraft which should be in service by
2025.
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