C-130 Hercules havarerte på Philippinene - CNN / ASN

 

At least 17 killed in Philippine Air Force plane crash

By Sophie Jeong and Yasmin Coles, CNN

Updated 0845 GMT (1645 HKT) July 4, 2021

 

The burning wreck of a Philippine military plane that crashed in Jolo, Sulu province on July 4, 2021.

Manila (CNN)At least 17 people have died after a Philippine Air Force plane crashed in the southern Philippines on Sunday, officials said, as rescue and recovery operations continue.

The C-130 military plane was transporting troops from Cagayan de Oro, in Mindanao, to Sulu province when it missed the runway on the island of Jolo, CNN affiliate CNN Philippines reported, citing Armed Forces Chief Cirilito Sobejana.

 

Smoke billows from the crash site in Patikul village, Jolo in the southern Philippines on July 4, 2021.

The plane crashed into nearby Patikul village at 11:30 a.m. local time on Sunday (11:30 p.m. ET), the report said.

Images from a local TV station appeared to show the burning wreck of the plane and thick smoke billowing from the village. A large plume of smoke is seen in images of the crash rising up through the palms to the blue sky.

Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana said at least 40 people have been rescued, theyare being treated at a military hospital in Jolo, CNN Philippines reported.

The plane was carrying 92 personnel on board, including three pilots and five crew members. The rest were army personnel reporting for duty, Lorenzana said in a statement.

He said at least 17 bodies have been recovered during the rescue efforts

Military and civilian firefighters have been deployed to put out the fire and rescue operations are focused on pulling survivors from the crash site, according to CNN Philippines.

According to Reuters, this is the country's worst military air disaster in around 30 years. In 1993, a Philippines Air Force C-130 crashed, killing 30 people.

The C-130 aircraft had recently arrived in the Philippines, Reuters reported. It was one of two aircraft granted by the U.S. government through the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, according to a government website announcement in January.

This is a developing story.

Status:
Date:	Sunday 4 July 2021
Time:	11:30
Type:	Lockheed C-130H Hercules
Operator:	Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas (Philippine Air Force)
Registration:	5125
MSN:	5125
First flight:	1988
Crew:	Fatalities: / Occupants: 8
Passengers:	Fatalities: / Occupants: 88
Total:	Fatalities: 42 / Occupants: 96
Ground casualties:	Fatalities: 3
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Aircraft fate:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	Patikul, Sulu (   Philippines)
Phase:	Approach (APR)
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Cagayan de Oro-Lumbia Airport (CGY/RPML), Philippines
Destination airport:	Jolo Airport (JOL/RPMJ), Philippines

Narrative:
A Philippine Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules crashed and caught fire while on approach to Jolo Airport, Philippines.
The Hercules transport plane originated from Villamor Air Base, located at the Manila International Airport and flew to Cagayan de Oro-Lumbia Airport in order to fly troops from there to Jolo Airport.
At least 42 occupants were killed, and 49 were injured. Five are still missing. Additionally, three civilians are reported to have died on the ground.