Australian chopper crashes in Antarctica with three onboard
Three people have been injured after an Australian helicopter crash landed in Antarctica about 150 nautical miles from Davis Station.
The Squirrel helicopter made an emergency landing about 3:00am (AEDT).
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the crash which left one person has back injuries and the other two with minor injuries.
The safety bureau's Julian Walsh says a rescue and salvage mission is underway.
"We'll obviously obtain maintenance documentation in relation to the helicopter and information about the weather conditions and those types of things," he said.
"But until we know a little but more about the actual circumstances of the accident, it's a little bit difficult to actually determine the more detailed lines of inquiry that our investigation is likely to take."
The helicopter was one of two returning to the station after surveying a penguin colony at Amery ice shelf.
The second helicopter landed near the crash site and its crew is looking after the injured people until medical support arrives.
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) says the group has adequate survival equipment and a tent has been set up to keep the injured warm.
Communication is being maintained with Davis Station.
The chopper is operated Helicopter Resources and is chartered by the AAD