Airplane with 10 on board reported missing in Chile

Officials say an airplane carrying 10 people is missing after taking off from an airport in southern Chile.

Officials say an airplane carrying 10 people is missing after taking off from an airport in southern Chile.

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Air Force Gen Hugo Pena says the Cessna 208 Caravan took off early on Saturday afternoon from the Puerto Montt airport 1,000 kilometres south of Santiago.

The plane belongs to Patagonia Airlines, a small regional airline.

It was heading south to the town of La Junta in the Aysen region with a pilot and nine passengers. Pena said it has been missing for several hours.

The search by air force and civilian pilots was suspended as darkness fell but Pena says it will resume on Sunday.