After being trapped on a research ship stuck in the Antarctic ice for more than a week, passengers aboard the MV Akademik Shokalski began to be airlifted by helicopter today. The 52 scientists and tourists on board will be flown to an ice floe near the Australian icebreaker Aurora Australisa, which will bring them to Tasmania by mid-January. The rescue comes after days of failed attempts due to wind, fog, sea ice, and horrific snowstorms.
