Philippines Plane Crash: Death Toll Jumps To 45; Rescue Ops Underway

The Philippine military chief says a C-130 plane transporting troops has crashed today.

Image tweeted by @AlertsPEA

Manila: A military plane carrying over 90 people, crashed and broke up in flames in the southern Philippines on Sunday, claiming lives of 45 passengers. According to Philippines Defence Minister Delfin Lorenzana, the plane was carrying 92 people, including three pilots and five other crew members.

The C-130 aircraft of the Philippine Air Force had a mishap that crashed as it tried to land on Jolo island in Sulu province, General Cirilito Sobejana told AFP. “Responders are at the site now, we are praying we can save more lives,” he said.

As per the latest inputs, Armed forces chief Cirilito Sobejana told reporters that death toll rose to 45 in Philippine military plane crash. earlier today, the official briefed media saying that at least 40 people had been rescued from the crashed plane and were now being treated. 

“While transporting our troops from Cagayan de Oro (on the southern island of Mindanao), it missed the runway, trying to regain power but it didn’t make it," Sobejana told local media, describing the accident as “very unfortunate". 

Many of the passengers had recently graduated from basic military training and were being deployed to the restive island as part of a joint task force fighting terrorism in the Muslim-majority region.

C-130 aircraft, the work horses of the air force, are used to transport troops and supplies. They are also often deployed to deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.