At least 17 killed in Philippines military plane crash

Bangkok Desk, Jul 4 (EFE).- At least 17 people were killed Sunday when a Philippines air force C-130 Hercules carrying 92 personnel crashed while landing at Jolo airport in Sulu province, authorities reported.

At least 40 people were rescued alive but injured, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement, adding that the 92 on board included three pilots and five crew. The rest were army personnel reporting for duty.

Thick black smoke and flames were seen in photos of the accident posted to social media.

“One of our C-130s, while transporting troops from Cagayan De Oro, missed the runway, tried to regain power but failed, and ended up crashing in Barangay Bangkal, Patikul, Sulu,” around 11.30 am local time (03:30 GMT), Philippines Armed Forces chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said in an earlier statement, according to the state Philippine News Agency.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate some 35 others in the plane at the time of the accident.

Survivors have been transferred to a military hospital in the city of Busbus, authorities said. EFE

nc/tw