An investigation into a helicopter crash in Antarctica that injured three Australians could take several months to complete.
An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) spokeswoman says the agency will investigate Sunday evening's crash but that gathering information on the incident will likely take "several months".
The chopper's pilot and two passengers were injured while returning from a mission to survey a penguin colony near the Amery ice shelf, around 278 kilometres from Davis Station.
All three were transferred to Davis Station, part of the federal government's Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), on Monday night and are currently in a stable condition.
They're being treated by the Davis Station doctor, with support from the AAD's Polar Medicine Unit at Kingston in Tasmania.
An AAD spokeswoman on Tuesday said she couldn't provide any more details about the crash.
The AAD previously said the injured were cared for by crew from a second helicopter, which was travelling in tandem, while awaiting rescue from the crash site.
The AAD said it chartered the chopper from Helicopter Resources based in Melbourne.
In a statement, Environment Minister Greg Hunt praised the effort of rescuers.
"Their quick thinking and precise planning ensured that all the injured were cared for and kept safe during the ordeal," Mr Hunt said.
"The accident is a reminder of the challenges facing scientists working in this environment."
