Philippines Plane Crash: 17 People Killed In The Burning Wreckage

New Delhi: A military plane crashed and broke up in flames in the southern Philippines on Sunday. According to Philippines Defence Minister Delfin Lorenzana, the plane was carrying 92 people, including three pilots and five other crew members, according to initial reports

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,” Sobejana said.

Armed forces chief Cirilito Sobejana told reporters that at least 40 people had been rescued from the crashed plane and were now being treated, as quoted by AFP.

“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.