DAVAO CITY — At least 17 soldiers belonging to the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippines Army were killed when the Philippine Air Force Lockheed C-130 aircraft carrying 92 personnel crashed while on landing in Barangay Bangkal, Patikul town in Sulu Province, at 11:30 in the morning Sunday, July 4, 2021.
The incident is considered the worst military air disaster in three decades.
“A C-130 aircraft of the Philippine Air Force with tail #5125 figured in a mishap upon landing in Jolo. The said aircraft took off from CJVAB to Lumbia Airport and subsequently ferried personnel to Jolo,” the PAF said in a statement.
Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief General Cirilito Sobejana confirmed that at least 40 personnel have so far been rescued from the burning military cargo plane and are now being treated in a military hospital in Busbus, Hospital, Sulu.
Most of the passengers are military personnel who were to be assigned to the Philippine Army’s 11th Infantry Batallion’s Joint Task Force Sulu after graduating recently from their basic military course.
“One of our C-130s while transporting our troops from Cagayan de Oro, na-miss niya ‘yung runway trying to regain power, at hindi nakayanan. Bumagsak doon sa may Barangay Bangkal, Patikul, Sulu,” Sobejana told reporters.
Pictures from the scene showed flames and smoke pouring from wreckage strewn among trees as men in combat uniform milled around. A large column of black smoke rose from the coconut palms into the blue sky.
Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana in a statement said “A C130 aircraft of the PAF crashed while landing at the Jolo airport at noon today. Initial report states that there were 92 personnel on board including 3 pilots and 5 crew. The rest were Army personnel reporting for duty. So far, 40 wounded and injured passengers were rescued and 17 bodies recovered. Rescue and recovery operation is on going.”-Editha Z. Caduaya
