From Iceland — First Solo Icelander To South Pole Receives Warm Welcome

First Solo Icelander To South Pole Receives Warm Welcome

Published January 29, 2013

The first Icelander to reach the South Pole alone was given praise and applause during her flight home.
Vilborg Arna Gissurardóttir, who last week became the first solo Icelander to reach the South Pole, completed the last leg of her trip back to Iceland via a Wow Air flight from London to Keflavík. Vilborg would find that the congratulations from her countrymen would begin before the plane even touched ground. DV reports that the flight crew were excited to meet her, having a group photo taken (as can be seen in the linked article).
While seated in flight, the pilot reportedly made the following announcement to all passengers on board:

Good evening dear guests and welcome aboard this very special Wow air flight to Keflavik Iceland. My name is Sveinn Akerlie and with me in the flight deck is Cpt Alfredo Vigiano. Why is this a special you might ask… Well we have on board this evening Icelands latest national hero. Vilborg Arna Gissurardóttir just walked unassisted 1140 km journey to the south pole. … I do want to ask everyone aboard to give her a well deserved round of applause.

The pilot then encouraged passengers, in Icelandic, to visit her website, lífsspor.is, and make a donation. All proceeds will be going to the Women’s Department of the National Hospital.

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