45 including 42 soldiers killed in a military aircraft crash in Philippines

Manila: – A Philippines military aircraft crashed in the Jolo islands region, killing 45 people, including 42 soldiers. 49 people could be rescued from the crash site and admitted to the nearby military hospitals. This aircraft, Lockheed C-130 Hercules, was handed over to the Philippines by the United States only at the beginning of this year. This is the fourth crash hitting the Philippines defence forces this year and 14 people have been killed in the previous crashes.

A military unit was being sent to the Jolo islands from the Mindanao islands for deployment. Filipino Defence Minister Delfin Lorenzana informed that three pilots, five employees and more than 80 soldiers were flying in the aircraft. The airstrip on the Jolo islands is smaller as compared to the other airports. Predictably, a pilot error could have caused a loss of control resulting in a crash.

It has been revealed that the C-130 Hercules overshot the runway and entered a village near the airport. Locals informed that the aircraft caught fire after overshooting. Photographs showing that only the part near the tail is intact and the rest of the aircraft having been completely destroyed have been published. Military officials informed that nearly 17 people are still missing. It has been clarified that the preliminary inquiries have revealed that there had been no external attack on the aircraft.

The fourth accident in just seven months raises doubts regarding the capabilities of the Philippines defence forces. In January, seven people died in a crash of the Huey helicopter of the Filipino air force. In April, one person was killed in the crash of an MD-520 helicopter. Following that, in the last month crash of a Black Hawk helicopter claimed six lives. Accusations are not being made that the Filipino defence forces are purchasing second-grade equipment and systems.

The process of modernisation of the Filipino defence forces has slowed down. This is due to the aggressive Chinese movements in the South China Sea and activities of terrorist organisations like Abu Sayyaf and attacks by the armed leftist groups. Analysts claim that this is the cause for the air force mishaps in the last seven months. But the Filipino defence department has dismissed these accusations through an independent statement after the Sunday accident.