A Lockheed C-130H Hercules military aircraft crashed in Sulu on Sunday, killing at least 17 personnel and hurting 40 others, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.
The aircraft with regd. number 5125 was transporting troops from Cagayan de Oro City. Aircraft caught fire immediately after the crash, damaging the aircraft beyond recovery.
In a statement, Lorenzana said the C130 aircraft of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) crashed while landing at an airport in Jolo around noon. It "missed the runway while trying to regain power," said Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana.
First hand reports say that there were 92 personnel, including 3 pilots and 5 crew, on board, while the rest were Army personnel reporting for duty, Lorenzana said.
Sobejana said the injured personnel were undergoing treatment at the Philippine Army 11th Infantry Division Hospital in Busbus town.
"We are doing our best effort to rescue the passengers. 'Yung ating ground commander nandun na, si Gen. Gonzales doing his best effort na naapula yung apoy at ma-rescue safely yung mga passengers," he told reporters.
In a separate statement, AFP Western Mindanao Command Chief Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan there are 4 individuals confirmed dead in the incident.
Forty-three military personnel and 4 civilians are injured, while 49 military personnel are still missing.
The aircraft, with tail number 5125, took off from Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base to Lumbia Airport and subsequently ferried personnel to Jolo, said Philippine Air Force Spokesman Lt. Col. Maynard Mariano.
Photo release.
— Leila Vicente-Albani (@leilavicente05) July 4, 2021
C-130 mishap in Sulu, Sunday morning????????????
Courtesy: JTF Sulu pic.twitter.com/D5jBbY9d2S
Also, on June 23, an S-70i Black Hawk Utility Helicopter of the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing crashed in Capas, Tarlac, killing six personnel.
