Military plane crashes in Philippines, 45 confirmed fatalities
A military aircraft of the type: C130 Hercules, crashed in the Philippines yesterday morning. There were 92 people on board. 45 people have been confirmed dead and 47 survived and were taken to a nearby military hospital.
The plane crashed in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, 950 kilometres south of the capital Manila. The condition of the remaining soldiers is currently unknown.
Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana says the C130 attempted to land at Jolo airport but overshot the runway.
17 bodies were found at the crash site on Jolo Island, but 75 people survived and were taken to a nearby military hospital, 28 of whom later died as a result of the accident.
Fire and smoke billowed from the wreckage, blackening trees and charring coconuts.
Officials say there was no evidence that the plane was the victim of an attack. An investigation is scheduled once the rescue mission is completed.
The soldiers were part of the increased military presence in the southern Philippines to fight groups such as Abu Sayyaf. According to an AFP report, several soldiers on board had just completed basic training.
The plane was 1 of 2 planes that the US gave to the Philippines through the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, a Philippine government website said.
In the past, the Philippine Armed Forces have had a significant share of crashes:
- For example, last month a training mission crashed a Black Hawk helicopter, killing 6 people.
- In 2008, a Lockheed Philippine Air Force plane crashed, killing 11 people.
- In 2000, an Air Philippines Boeing 737 crashed, killing 131 people.
- In 1993, a Philippine Air Force C-130 crashed, killing 30 people
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