AP, SANTIAGOThe Chilean Air Force on Monday evening lost radio contact with a transport plane carrying 38 people to the country’s base in Antarctica and authorities indicated several hours later that they were not optimistic about the aircraft’s fate. Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said on Twitter that he was with his defense and interior ministers at the air force headquarters monitoring developments. The air force “continues the search in the sector where communication with the aircraft was lost, in order to rescue potential survivors,” the statement said. Drake’s Passage, where the airplane went missing, is infamous for severe weather conditions, including freezing temperatures and ferocious storms. The aircraft would have been about halfway to the Antarctic base when it lost contact, Mosqueira said, adding that no emergency signals had been activated.

Source: Taipei Times December 10, 2019 16:07 UTC