ABOARD XUELONG, Jan. 2 -- The first group of passengers aboard a Russian vessel stuck in sea ice off Antarctica have been transferred by a Chinese helicopter to ice surface near an Australian rescue ship on Thursday, said a Xinhua reporter.

The passengers were taken to safe ice near Aurora Australis by Xueying 12, a helicopter on board China's icebreaker Xuelong, after an earlier flight examining the conditions around the stranded ship to prepare for the landing on ice, said the reporter aboard Xuelong.

Xueying captain Jia Shuliang told Xinhua on Wednesday that "The crew members have been readied to transport the 52 scientists and tourists aboard MV Akademik Shokalskiy with their luggage to Xuelong in groups of 12."

According to the rescue plan, six crew members will be split into three two-person teams, respectively responsible for flying the helicopter and guaranteeing the ground service on board Xuelong and on the icy landing surface, Jia said.

Xuelong, which left Shanghai in early November on China's 30th scientific expedition to Antarctica, has established an emergency relief working group after the Russian ship's captain sent a formal request on Tuesday for chopper rescue.