A U.S. Air Force transport aircraft bound for Antarctica turned back to Christchurch, New Zealand, on Tuesday after a warning about a potentially hazardous activity affecting international airspace.
The C-17 Globemaster, operating under the call sign ICE28, departed Christchurch at about 9:00 a.m. local time, before returning less than three hours later. The change was prompted by a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued at the direction of New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Warning Issued by New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority
In a statement on Tuesday, the CAA said it had been notified of potentially hazardous activity by Russia’s state air traffic management organisation, which led to the issuance of a NOTAM to alert pilots.
On Wednesday, the agency said it had received further information from Russia about the hazard, identifying it as a planned missile launch.
“The [CAA was] made aware by the Russian air traffic agency of a planned missile launch and associated potential hazard to international airspace, within New Zealand’s Oceanic Flight Information Region (FIR),” the CAA said.
Oceanic Flight Information Region Covers High Seas
The Oceanic FIR is the airspace over the high seas that New Zealand manages under an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regional air navigation agreement.
New Zealand’s air traffic management authority describes the FIR as covering an area of about 30 million square kilometres, largely over international waters across the South Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean and the Tasman Sea.
Danger Area and NOTAM for Operators
The CAA said it established a danger area and issued the NOTAM to inform aircraft operators of the potential risk.
It added that the measure does not automatically block flights through the area. “This does not prevent aircraft from flying through the area; operators make their decisions based on the information available,” the agency said.
Part of Winter Resupply Flights to Antarctica
The C-17 flight was scheduled as part of the U.S. Air Force’s winter fly season. The mission involves moving researchers and essential equipment to Antarctica before the summer research period begins.
The aircraft is one of the operations scheduled annually to fly between Christchurch and research bases in Antarctica in both the United States and New Zealand.
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20 August 2026
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