A Chilean Air Force plane with 38 individuals on board that disappeared Monday night on its approach to Antarctica is attempted to have slammed, said the Air Force on Tuesday.

“The plane is presumed to have crashed, given that the amount of fuel and the plane’s autonomy had already run out. Given that, it is already assumed that the plane has crashed,” said Gen. Francisco Torres in a televised press conference.

The C-130 Hercules aircraft had left from the Chilean capital of Santiago and halted quickly in Punta Arenas close to the nation’s southern tip, the Chilean Air Force said in an announcement. The four-engine aircraft at that point proceeded toward the nation’s Antarctic base before losing radio contact around 6 p.m. local time close to the Drake Passage, the body of water between the tip of South America and Antarctica.

Its last realized position was around 390 nautical miles from Punta Arenas and 280 nautical miles from the Antarctic base, as per the Air Force.

There were 17 team individuals and 21 different travelers ready, who were en route to perform “strategic help undertakings, for example, fixing the gliding oil pipeline that gives fuel to the base, said the Air Force.

Notwithstanding team individuals, the plane was additionally carrying personnel from the military, an engineering firm, and the University of Magallanes.

After the plane lost contact, the Air Force announced a state of alarm and mobilized a search and rescue team, initiating Air Force resources in Santiago and the Magallanes Region in southern Chile. President Sebastian Pinera tweeted on Tuesday that he was deliberating with security authorities in Cerrillos to screen the salvage operation.

Air and maritime authorities are as yet scanning for survivors in the zone of the plane’s last known location and informing the families regarding the travelers ready, the Air Force said.

Argentina, Uruguay, and the United States have joined the search exertion, as indicated by a press release from the Chilean Air Force on Tuesday.

Two US satellites are being utilized to catch pictures of the area where the plane disappeared.

Aviation based armed forces General Eduardo Mosqueira told reporters Tuesday that the “intensified” search efforts will proceed for six days, and perhaps stretch out more than 10 days.

He included that the aircraft was in great condition at the time of departure – as it started a routine month to month flight to Antarctica.

The C-130 is viewed as a workhorse of modern militaries around the world. The four-engine turboprop is utilized to transport troops, equipment, and cargo. The planes can carry up to 42,000 pounds of cargo or about 90 combat troops.

The first C-130 Hercules went into service in the US Air Force during the 1950s.

However, the more modern “H” and “J” model variants were presented during the 1970s and 1990s, respectively.