CHILE, Dec. 10 (CGTN) -- A Chilean military plane disappeared with 38 people on board on Monday, said the Chilean Air Force in a statement.

The Hercules C130 aircraft took off at 4:55 p.m. (1955 GMT) en route from the southern city of Punta Arenas to the Chilean Air Force base in Antarctica.

The operators lost contact with it shortly after 6:00 p.m., according to the statement.

"On board the C130 Hercules are 38 people, of which 17 are crew members of the aircraft and 21 are passengers," it said.