The Philippines: Military plane crash kills 29

A military plane has crashed in the southern Philippines killing at least 29 people, while dozens have been pulled alive from the burning wreckage.

The transporter was carrying more than 90 people, mostly troops, when it overshot the runway on Jolo island.

Fifty were injured and 17 are missing, the military said. Survivors were taken to a nearby military hospital.

A large ball of black smoke was seen above the wreckage of the plane, a Lockheed C130 Hercules.

The plane, which came down at 11:30 local time (03:30 GMT) a few kilometres from the town of Jolo, was carrying troops from Cagayan de Oro, on the southern island of Mindanao.

“It missed the runway, trying to regain power but it didn’t make it,” armed forces chief Gen Sobejana told reporters.

The soldiers were among reinforcements sent to the southern Philippines to combat militants.

Officials said there was no sign that the aircraft had been attacked, and an investigation would start once the rescue operation was complete.

Many of those on board had only recently completed basic military training, AFP reports.

BBC/ Bilkisu  Pai