At Least 17 Die in Philippines Troop Plane Crash

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - At least 17 people were killed when a Philippines Air Force plane carrying troops crashed on landing in the south of the country and broke up in flames on Sunday.

The Lockheed C-130 transport aircraft crashed at Patikul in Sulu province, in the far south of the archipelago nation where the army has been fighting a long war against Islamist militants from the Abu Sayyaf and other factions. "So far 40 wounded and injured were rescued and 17 bodies recovered. Rescue and recovery is ongoing," Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement, adding that 92 people had been on board. Military chief Cirilito Sobejana said the plane had "missed the runway trying to regain power."