US Air Force Antarctica resupply flight diverts after Russian space hazard warning

Published Aug 20, 07:10 PM UTC

A U.S. Air Force C-17A Globemaster III en route from Christchurch, New Zealand, to Antarctica was forced to turn back on August 20, 2026, after receiving a 'potentially hazardous' space activity warning. The New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) following notification from the Russian Air Traffic Management Corporation about a planned missile launch that posed a potential hazard to international airspace within New Zealand's Oceanic Flight Information Region. The flight, call sign ICE28, departed at 9 a.m. local time and returned to Christchurch by 11:30 a.m. The mission was part of the U.S. Air Force's annual Winter Fly-in (WinFly) period, which delivers personnel and cargo to McMurdo Station and Scott Base in Antarctica ahead of the research season. The Pacific Air Forces spokesperson confirmed the flight was a routine resupply mission but declined to specify if it was directly supporting WinFly.