The Chilean Air Force reported on Monday the disappearance of one of its cargo planes that was headed to a base in Antarctica with 38 people on board.
The aircraft, a C-130 Hercules, had taken off from Punta Arenas in southern Chile at 4:55 p.m. local time on Monday. It disappeared from radar at 6:13 p.m. while flying over Drake Passage, a body of water which connects the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans.
“On board the C130 Hercules are 38 people, of which 17 are crew members of the aircraft and 21 are passengers,” the Air Force said in a statement. There was no immediate word on their identities or nationalities.
A state of alert was declared after communication with plane was lost, and a search and rescue team was activated.
The aircraft was travelling to perform logistical support tasks for the maintenance of Chilean facilities at the Antarctic base.
