A Philippine military official announced that 29 bodies were recovered at the crash site of a military plane carrying soldiers in the south of the country on Sunday, while 17 people are still missing, according to the "Reuters" agency.
Brigadier General William Gonzalez added that 50 of those on the plane were taken to hospital for treatment, expressing his hope that more survivors will be found.
Earlier, Philippine military chief Cirilito Sobijana said a C-130 military transport plane crashed after it could not land on the runway amid attempts to regain control of it.
The incident took place a few kilometers from Jolo airport in the southernmost province of Sulu, where the army has been fighting a long war against Islamist militants from the Abu Sayyaf group and other factions.
Army spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo ruled out any indication of an attack on the plane, but said an investigation into the accident had not begun and efforts were focused on rescue.
Source: "Reuters"
#BREAKING A Philippine military plane carrying 85 people crashes, AFP quoted Armed Forces Chief Cirilito Sobejana as saying. #Philippine#AirForece#crashpic.twitter.com/d22rvvFEpi
— Chaudhary Sahab (@JournalistSahab) July 4, 2021
LOOK: The C-130 crash site in Patikul, Sulu on Sunday (July 4, 2021). The aircraft was on a troop transport mission, according to AFP chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana. | via Priam Nepomuceno (📸: courtesy of Bridge Bridge, PTV) pic.twitter.com/aVlGfs43f7
— Phil News Agency (@pnagovph) July 4, 2021
#Philippines#AirForce: One of the newly delivered C-130H from the US (t/n: 5125) crashed today in Sulu.
— Granger (@GrangerE04117) July 4, 2021
AFP stated that it was carrying 85 people when it crashed. The plane was recently commissioned into the Philippine Air Force back in January 2021. pic.twitter.com/2Mi93htHHq
Source: agencies