Chilean Air Force plane to Antarctica crashes with 38 people aboard

A Chile Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules preparing to leave the Arturo Merino Benitez Airport in Santiago, Chile, on March 21. - Copyright Fabrizio Gandolfo

By Tim Stelloh with NBC News World News

Published on 10/12/2019 - 5:42 GMT+1

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The plane lost radio contact shortly after 6 p.m. Officals later said it had crashed.

A Chilean Air Force plane flying to Antarctica with 38 people on board crashed on Monday afternoon, officials said.

The C130 Hercules, which took off from the city of Punta Arenas, was flying to President Eduardo Frei Montalva Antarctic Air Base when it disappeared, Chile's Air Force said in a statement.

The plane, which was transferring personnel to a floating fuel supply pipeline, lost radio contact shortly after 6:00 p.m. Officials later said it had crashed.

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Twenty-one people aboard the plane were passengers and 17 were crew members, the statement said.

President Sebastian Piñera said authorities were monitoring search and rescue efforts.

This is a developing story.

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Chilean Air Force plane to Antarctica crashes with 38 people aboard

The plane lost radio contact shortly after 6 p.m. Officals later said it had crashed.

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