Chile military plane disappears with 38 aboard

The C-130 Hercules serves some 60 nations in a variety of roles.

SANTIAGO, Chile–A military plane with 38 people aboard disappeared Monday after taking off from the south of the country for a base in Antarctica, the Chilean Air Force said.

“A C-130 Hercules aircraft took off at 16:55 (19:55 GMT) from the city of Punta Arenas to the President Eduardo Frei Antarctic Base… 38 people are traveling,” the Air Force said in a statement.

The plane was traveling to Antarctica to help maintain facilities at Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva, a Chilean base on the northern tip of the continent.