Philippine C-130 military plane carrying 80 people crashes; 40 rescued

Manila, July 04: A Philippine military plane carrying 85 people crashed, AFP quoted Armed Forces Chief Cirilito Sobejana as saying.

A C130 plane of the Philippine Air Force crashed in Brgy. Bangkal, Patikul, Sulu at 11:30 a.m. today, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Cirilito Sobejana confirms. He further said, rescue operations for passengers and crew underway.

The four-engine turboprop military transport crashed as it tried to land on Jolo island in Sulu province, Philippines.

Philippines military chief General Cirilito Sobejana on Sunday said a C-130 plane carrying more than 80 soldiers had crashed during take-off.

"It's very unfortunate," Sobejana told reporters. "The plane missed the runway and it was trying to regain power but failed and crashed."

Emergency crews initially managed to save at least 40 people from the burning wreckage of the plane, which crashed as it tried to land on Jolo island in Sulu province, some 1,000 kilometers south of Manila.

"Responders are at the site now, we are praying we can save more lives," Sobejana said.