Manila: At least 45 people, including 42 soldiers, were killed when an air force transport plane crashed while landing at an airport in the southern Philippine province of Zulu. Three of the dead were locals. 49 people were rescued with injuries. The plane was carrying troops deployed to deploy Abu Sayyaf, a terrorist stronghold in Zulu.
The US-made C-130 Hercules, carrying 96 people, including three pilots, crashed at the airport in the mountain town of Jolo yesterday afternoon. A few soldiers jumped out of the plane and escaped. The seriously injured pilot was rescued.
The aircraft, built by the Lockheed Company, which was part of the US Air Force, was delivered to the Philippines in the name of military assistance.
The cause of the accident is not clear. Elsewhere in the Philippines, it was raining yesterday but the weather in Zulu was clear. The runway at this airport is too short. Witnesses said the plane skidded off the runway and crashed into the airport compound. Everything crashed except the tail of the plane. All four villagers around the airport were injured.
The airport is a few kilometers away from the area where Abu Sayyaf is fighting militants. However, the military said the initial conclusion was that the plane had crashed, not an enemy shot.
