Chilean military plane 'disappears' with 38 on board

A military plane with 38 on board has disappeared en route to Antarctica, Chile's air force says in a statement.

The C-130 Hercules transport aircraft took off from Punta Arenas at 16:55 local time (19:55 GMT), and operators lost contact soon after 18:00 (21:00).

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.

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.

(Source: BBC News)