New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spent an extra night Friday at the country’s research station in Antarctica after the military aircraft she was meant to be travelling back to New Zealand on broke down.
Ardern has been in Antarctica meeting with the country’s scientists and visiting sites of historical importance while promoting the need for cooperation in the region.
A spokeswoman for the prime minister said on Saturday that Ardern and those travelling with her are due to return Saturday on an Italian C-13 Hercules military aircraft.
Ardern flew on a U.S. military plane to Antarctica after her first flight had to turn back mid-flight due to bad weather.
New Zealand is one of seven countries, including Australia, France and Chile, with a territorial claim to Antarctica.