Antarctica rescue mission back tonight

The Orion took off from McMurdo Station in Antarctica this afternoon. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion on a rescue mission to Antarctica to pick up an ill American is expected to arrive back in Christchurch about 9pm.

The Orion, which left at first light today, took off from McMurdo Station in Antarctica this afternoon and was expected to arrive in Christchurch at 9.10pm, Raytheon Polar Services New Zealand operations manager Kerry Chuck said tonight.

American authorities made the evacuation request on Friday and a plane first left for Antarctica on Saturday but returned a few hours later after receiving reports of blizzards at McMurdo Station. Sunday's effort was also put off because of strong winds.

Raytheon Polar Services runs the station for the United States National Science Foundation. Its New Zealand operations manager Kerry Chuck said the man was suffering from an illness rather than an injury.

It was believed his condition had not really changed since the evacuation request was first made, despite the weather-imposed delays.

- NZPA