A military plane crashed and burst into flames in the southern Philippines on Sunday. According to Philippine Defense Minister Delphine Lorenzana, according to preliminary reports, there were 92 people on board, including three pilots and five other crew members.
General Sirilito Sobejana said a Philippine Air Force C-130 plane crashed while trying to land on Jolo Island in Sulu Province. AFP.
“Respondents are now on site, praying we can save more lives,” Sobejana said.
Armed forces chief Sirilito Sobejana told reporters that at least 40 people had been rescued from the crashed plane and were now being treated, as quoted by AFP.
The agency also confirmed that 17 people have died due to burnt debris on the plane after the crash.
“While taking our troops from Cagayan de Oro (on the southern island of Mindanao), it missed the runway, trying to gain power, but it didn’t happen,” Sobejana told local media. was described as “very unfortunate”.
Many of the passengers had recently graduated from basic military training and were being deployed to the troubled island as part of a joint task force fighting terrorism in the Muslim-majority region.
C-130 aircraft are used to transport Air Force work horses, troops and supplies. They are also often deployed to deliver humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
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