A Philippine Air Force plane crash that occurred on Sunday has left at least 45 people dead. Rescue and recovery operations are ongoing in the country’s worst military air disaster in decades.
According to CNN, the C-130 military plane was carrying troops from Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao to Sulu province. Apparently, the plane missed the runway on the island of Jolo.
It was carrying over 90 military personnel crew when it crashed into nearby Patikul village late that morning.
“Minutes after the crash, troops, and civilian volunteers rushed to the site for search and rescue. Per eyewitnesses, several soldiers were seen jumping out of the aircraft before it hit the ground, sparing them from the explosion caused by the crash,” according to a press release by Joint Task Force Sulu.
A local TV station seemed to show the burning wreck of the plane and smoke coming from the village.
Of those killed, 42 military personnel and 3 civilians were included. Of the 53 injured people. 49 are military personnel, and four are civilians. The civilians happened to be killed and injured while on the ground in the plane crash.
Many were hospitalized following the crash, and some were evacuated to Zamboanga to seek medical treatment.
Five military members aboard the plane remain missing.
Joint Task Force Sulu Commander William N Gonzales said the personnel traveling on the plane “were supposed to report to their battalions today. They were supposed to join us in our fight against terrorism.”
