Dead Victims From Philippine Military Aircraft Crash Increases To 47 People

The crash site of the Philippine Air Force's Hercules transport plane in Patikul, Sulu, Sunday, July 4. (Armed Forces of the Philippines - Joint Task Force Sulu/Handout via REUTERS /aww/Antara)

JAKARTA - The number of people who died in the deadly crash of a C-130 Hercules military transport plane belonging to the Philippine Air Force has increased to 47 people.

There were a total of 96 passengers on the plane that crashed on Sunday, July 4 local time, said Military Chief Cirilito Sobejna on Monday, July 5.

"Forty-nine military personnel were injured in the crash, Sobejana told Reuters as quoted on Monday, July 5. The plane was known to have flown from Laguindingan about 460 kilometers to the northeast, bound for Jolo province.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense said on Sunday local time, three civilians on the ground were also killed and four civilians injured in the plane crash.

The accident occurred when a Philippine military plane attempted to land at Jolo Airport, Sulu but failed to cross the runway without landing. The plane failed to regain its strength to fly and reached sufficient altitude, before finally crashing on Patikul.

"A number of soldiers were seen jumping out of the plane before it hit the ground, saving them from the explosion caused by the crash," the Sulu Joint Task Force said in a statement. It was not immediately clear how many jumped or whether they survived the deadly crash.

A military spokesman, Colonel Edgard Arevalo, said there was no sign of an attack on the plane, but an investigation had not yet begun as efforts were focused on rescue and maintenance.

Separately, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he had ordered an investigation into the incident, which would begin once rescue and recovery operations are complete.

Sulu, about 950 km (600 miles) south of the capital, Manila, is the headquarters of the Abu Sayyaf militant group, which is notorious for frequent clashes with the Philippine military.