Helicopter rescue for stranded Antarctic ship

The first group of passengers who were aboard the trapped Russian vessel MV Akademik Shokalski, arrive at a safe surface off the Antarctic, Jan. 2, 2014.

The helicopter rescued all 52 passengers from the research ship that has been trapped in Antarctic ice, 1,500 nautical miles south of Hobart, Australia, since Christmas Eve after weather conditions finally cleared enough for the operation Thursday.

Read more: Helicopter comes to rescue of ship passengers stuck for a week in Antarctic ice

Antarctica

Andrew Peacock/Australasian Antarctic Expedition/AP

Ben Maddison and Ben Fisk from the Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy link work to place a wind indicator atop an ice feature near the trapped ship 1,500 nautical miles south of Hobart, Australia, Dec. 31, 2013.

The research ship, with 74 scientists, tourists and crew on board, was on a research expedition to Antarctica, when it got stuck Dec. 24 after a blizzard's whipping winds pushed the sea ice around the ship, freezing it in place.

Antarctica

The first group of passengers aboard the trapped Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy arrive at a safe surface off the Antarctic, Jan. 2, 2014.

Antarctica

The Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy is trapped in thick Antarctic ice 1,500 nautical miles south of Hobart, Australia, Dec. 27, 2013.

Antarctica

Passengers from the trapped Russian vessel MV Akademik Shokalski, seen at right, prepare to board the Chinese helicopter Xueying 12 in the Antarctic, Jan. 2, 2014.

Antarctica

Passengers from the Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy trapped in the ice 1,500 nautical miles south of Hobart, Australia, walk around the ice, Dec. 31, 2013.

Antarctica

The first group of passengers aboard the trapped Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalski arrive at a safe surface off the Antarctic, Jan. 2, 2014.

Antarctica

The first group of passengers aboard the trapped Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalski arrive at a safe surface off the Antarctic, Jan. 2, 2014.

Antarctica

The first group of passengers of the trapped Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalski arrive at a safe surface off the Antarctic, Jan. 2, 2014.

Antarctica

Andrew Peacock/Australasian Antarctic Expedition/Footloose Fotography/AP

Passengers from the Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy link arms and stamp out a helicopter landing site on the ice near the trapped ship 1,500 nautical miles south of Hobart, Australia, Dec. 31, 2013 .