Chilean military plane disappears with 38 onboard

A Chilean military plane en route to Antarctica with 38 onboard has disappeared.

BBC reports that the country Air Force, in a statement, said the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft took off from Punta Arenas on Monday at 16:55 local time (19:55 GMT), and operators lost contact soon after 18:00 (21:00)

It added that the plane was around 450 miles into its 770-mile journey when contact was lost.

A search and rescue operation is under way to recover the plane.

Among the missing are 17 crew members and 21 passengers, who were travelling to provide logistical support.

News agency EFE reports that three of those on board are civilians.

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.

Chilean President Sebastián Piñera said in a tweet that he was “dismayed” by the loss, and was monitoring the situation from the capital, Santiago.