A Chilean military plane carrying 38 people has disappeared on
its way to Antarctica on Tuesday.
According to Chile air force, 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).
The 38 on board include 17 crew members and 21 passengers,
who were travelling to provide logistical support to a military base on
Antarctica’s King George Island.
BBC news report that a search-and-rescue mission has begun
and is under way.
Further reports shows that the plane did not activate any
distress signal, and it might have forced the pilot to do a forceful landing
due to lack of fuel.
The air force released a statement saying that the plane was
about 450 miles into its 770-mile journey when contact was lost, placing it
within the Drake Passage.
The Drake Passage is body of water connecting the South
Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans, and is known for treacherous weather
conditions.
President Sebastián Piñera said in a tweet that he was
“dismayed” by the loss, and was monitoring the situation from the
capital, Santiago.
Chile controls over 1.2 million sq km (463,000 sq miles) of
Antarctic territory, bordering land claimed by the UK and Argentina.
Source: BBC News
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