The number of people who died in the military transport plane crash in Sulu, Philippines climbed to 50 Monday as officials concluded the search for five missing individuals.
Some 47 soldiers onboard the Philippine Air Force C-130 Hercules and three civilians on the ground died in the crash, Armed Forces of the Philippines representative Major Gen. Edgardo Arevalo said.
As of early Monday local time, all 96 military personnel and crew aboard the plane had been accounted for, Arevalo said.
Forces chief Cirilito Sobejana said the fiery crash took place Sunday when the plane missed the runway while trying to land on the southern island of Jolo, Sulu's provincial capital, where Philippine troops are fighting the terror group Abu Sayyaf and other armed groups.
According to Arevalo, the challenge is to identify the bodies because the remains are "charred," The Philippine Star reported.
Three pilots were among those who survived the crash but were in serious condition, officials said.
An investigation would be launched after rescue and retrieval operations had been completed, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.
I have ordered a full investigation to get to the bottom of the C-130 incident, as soon as the rescue and recovery operation is completed. I ask everyone to join us in praying for the the pilots, crew, passengers of the ill-fated C-130 aircraft as well as their families. — Delfin Lorenzana (@del_lorenzana) July 4, 2021
"I have ordered a full investigation to get to the bottom of the crash as soon as the rescue and retrieval operation is completed," Lorenzana said on Twitter.
The United States Monday offered condolences to the Philippines following the tragedy.
"Our thoughts are with those who were injured and the families of those who were lost," U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement.
The incident is the third air crash involving a force aircraft this year, Philippines' news outlet GMA News said. All three crashes resulted in loss of life.
Meanwhile, Lorenzana denied that the forces buy and use defective aircraft equipment.
"With the investigations of the past mishaps still ongoing, such speculations are baseless and disrespectful to the affected men and women of the Philippine Air Force, forces and their families," the defense secretary said.
The aircraft was transporting soldiers, many of whom had just completed basic training, from the southern city of Cagayan de Oro for deployment in Sulu, military officials said.
