A Chilean military plane with 38 persons on board has disappeared en route to Antarctica, Chilean air force has said in a statement.
The C-130 Hercules transport aircraft went missing around 06:00 am local time after taking off from the southern city of Punta Arenas.
Among the missing are 17 crew members and 21 passengers, who were travelling to provide logistical support.
Chile’s air force said a search and rescue operation is under way to recover the plane and those missing.
Air Force General Eduardo Mosqueira told local media that the plane did not activate any distress signal while flying to Chile’s Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva base, on Antarctica’s King George Island.
