KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A daring polar rescue mission is delayed this morning. A plane is waiting to evacuate a sick American doctor from the bottom of the world, but extreme winter weather is preventing a take-off. CNN national correspondent Gary Tuchman joins us now by telephone from the plane's destination point, Punta Arenas, Chile. Gary -- what's the latest?</s>GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Kyra, within an hour, we expect the South Pole rescue mission to continue. A small plane is in place right now on the pole, waiting to take out an ill U.S. doctor. Just minutes ago, we heard that the scheduled go time to leave the South Pole: 10:00 Eastern time. So 50 minutes from now, they're expecting the small plane, the twin-engine eight-seater that had skis outfitted on the bottom to land on the South Pole, to leave the South Pole. The doctor's name is Ronald Shemenski. He's 59 years old, from Oak Harbor, Ohio.</s>PHILLIPS: All right, Gary, and we'll be following that flight. Thanks so much. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Plane Scheduled to Leave South Pole with Sick Doctor