Santiago, Dec 10 (UNI) The Chilean Air Force said the missing C130 Hercules warplane had been recognised as crashed and search for wreckage and survivors continues.
"The Chilean defence forces report that seven hours after losing the communication with the C130 Hercules aircraft, it was recognised as crashed," a statement published on Twitter said.
The Chilean Air Force, all available national and foreign aircraft and vessels located in the area of the tragedy, continue to search for possible survivors, CBS NEWS reported.
On Monday, the Chilean Air Force said it had lost contact with an Antarctica-bound plane with 38 people on board. The plane departed at 4:55 p.m. local time from Punta Arenas, officials said, and lost contact with operators at 6:13 p.m. local time.
President Sebastián Piñera posted on Twitter that he was with his defence and interior ministers at Air Force headquarters monitoring developments.
The Air Force said it was contacting family members of those on board the plane "to keep them informed of this sad situation which affects both the Force and the nation."

The aircraft, carrying 21 passengers and 17 crew members, was traveling to Antarctica to help maintain facilities at Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva.
Of the passengers, 15 were members of the Air Force, three were from the country's army, two were private citizens from the same company and one was from the University of Magallanes in Punta Arenas,
The plane, whose pilot has extensive experience, was scheduled to return to Chile on Monday night.
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