Cotabato: The Philippine’s air craft crashed and burst into flames after missing the runway, at least 45 people were killed and dozens injured, when a Philippine military aircraft carrying troops crashed on Sunday.

The C-130 Hercules transport plane which was trying to land on Jolo Island in Sulu Province around midday, which is carrying recent army graduates nearly 100. Some of the soldiers were seen jumping out of the plane before it hit the ground and exploded into flames, said Major General William Gonzales, Commander of the Joint Task Force-Sulu. It was one of the country’s deadliest military aviation accidents.

Commander of the Joint Task Gonzales said in a statement that this is a sad day but we have to remain hopeful, we enjoin the nation to pray for those who are injured and those who have perished in this tragedy. A search was still under way for 17 missing people. Photos of the crash site released by the Joint Task Force-Sulu showed the damaged tail and the smoking wreckage of the fuselage’s back section lying near coconut trees.

Armed Forces Chief General Cirilito Sobejana said the aircraft was carrying troops from Cagayan de Oro on the southern island of Mindanao when it missed the runway as it tried to land on Jolo.