45 dead, 5 missing in plane crash carrying recently graduated soldiers

At least 45 people died and 53 were injured when a military plane crashed this Sunday in the southern Philippines, taking 96 people on board, including eight crew members, including the three pilots.

Meanwhile, rescue teams are looking for at least 5 people among the charred remains of the aircraft that suffered the tragic accident.

The first information was confirmed by the country’s Defense Minister, Delfin Lorenzana, who clarified that the accident took place at 11:30 am (local time), in the municipality of Patikul, province of Jolo.

According to surveys, the troop transport aircraft, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules Coming from Mindanao, it failed trying to land on the runway at the provincial airport and ended up crashing in a village in Patikul municipality, near the airfield.

At least three of the dead are civilians that they were in the area where the plane struck, while the rest of the dead are soldiers, local authorities said a few minutes ago in their latest update.

The number of wounded had previously been provided by the chief of the armed forces, General Cirilito Sobejana and for the moment it seems unchanged. All were transferred to a hospital in Jolo to receive first aid.

“By transporting our troops from Cagayan de Oro (on the island of Mindanao, in the south), left the track, trying to regain power, but did not succeed, ”Sobejana told the media, describing the accident as“ very unfortunate ”.

The military chief said “rescuers are on the scene”. “We pray that they can save more lives,” he said.

Sobejana said 17 of those rescued alive were being treated at the nearby 11th Infantry Division hospital. There are also 4 civilians who survived the tragedy, according to the Rappler news portal.

Many passengers they had recently graduated basic military training and were deployed to the island as part of a joint force fighting armed groups in the predominantly Muslim region.

The military has a strong presence in the southern Philippines, where groups like Abu Sayyaf operate, often carrying out kidnappings for ransom.

C-130 planes are used to transport troops and supplies. They are also frequently deployed to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Some must jump

“Several soldiers were seen jumping from the plane before it touched the ground, escaping the explosion caused by the crash,” Joint Task Force Sulu said in a statement.

The incident caused a thick cloud of black smoke, according to videos and photos posted on social media by witnesses, as the flames devoured part of the damaged device.

Authorities have opened an investigation to try to determine the causes and motives that led to the incident.

With information from AFP and EFE