Sulu plane crash death toll climbs to 52

MANILA – The death toll from the C-130H transport plane crash in Patikul, Sulu has now climbed to 52.

The two additional military fatalities were reported by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana Monday night.

“(The) AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) fatalities (is now) 49, injured (is) 47,” Lorenzana said in a message to reporters.

Meanwhile, the number of civilians killed in the crash remained at three with another four injured.

The Air Force C-130H with tail number 5125 was to transport troops to Jolo when it crashed in Patikul, Sulu around 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

The aircraft was one of the two C-130H acquired through a grant from the US government that arrived in the country last January 29. It was formally welcomed to the PAF fleet during a ceremony at the Villamor Air Base, Pasay last Feb. 18.

The C-130 is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin.

Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport aircraft.

Around 96 people were recorded in the C-130’s flight manifest, including three pilots and five aircrews.