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Philippine military plane crashes, 17 dead, 40 rescued

On Sunday, a Philippines Air Force plane carrying troops crashed on landing in the country’s south and burst into flames, killing at least 17 people.

The Lockheed C-130 transport plane crashed at Patikul in Sulu province, in the archipelago nation’s far south, where the army has been fighting Islamist militants from the Abu Sayyaf and other factions for years.

“So far, 40 wounded and injured people have been rescued, and 17 bodies have been recovered; rescue and recovery operations are still ongoing,” Defence Minister Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement, adding that 92 people were on board.

According to military chief Cirilito Sobejana, the plane “missed the runway while attempting to regain power.”

Colonel Edgard Arevalo, a military spokesman, said there was no indication of an attack on the plane, but that a crash investigation had not yet begun and that efforts were focused on rescue and treatment.

Images from the scene showed flames and smoke pouring from wreckage strewn among trees, while men in combat gear milled about. A massive column of black smoke rose into the sky.

According to Sobejana, the plane crashed a few kilometres (miles) from Jolo airport at 11:30 a.m. (0330 GMT) and was carrying troops.

“We are currently caring for the survivors who were immediately transported to the 11th Infantry Division station hospital in Busbus, Jolo, Sulu,” he said.

Related Topics:c130 Philippine military Plane crash

Africa

Qantas to deploy A380s to Africa for the first time

Qantas is making history today as its inaugural Airbus A380 flight takes off for Johannesburg, marking the first time the national carrier has operated the Superjumbo to Africa.

This monumental move means up to six flights per week, nearly doubling the capacity between Australia and Africa, adding an impressive 130,000 seats annually. The qantas A380 is capable of carrying 485 passengers across four luxurious cabins. This deployment marks the return of First Class on this route, a feature not seen since 2018.

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The First Class section offers 14 exclusive suites arranged in a spacious 1-1-1 configuration, each converting into a 212-centimeter bed. Additionally, Premium Economy seats are more than doubling, providing even more options for travelers.

Passengers in First and Business Class can enjoy the upper deck lounge, featuring booth-style seating for 10 people, a self-service bar, and an opportunity to order signature drinks and snacks.

Qantas’ history with South Africa dates back to 1948 when the airline first touched down in Johannesburg with a Lancastrian survey flight from Sydney. The journey evolved over the years, transitioning from 66-hour flights on the Lockheed Constellation L-749A—affectionately known as the “Wallaby Route“—to today’s nonstop journeys across the southern Indian Ocean. This is the first airbus a380 capacity flight operated by any airline over this route, a significant milestone for aviation.

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Looking ahead, Qantas plans to relaunch direct flights from Perth to Johannesburg in mid-2025, pending border agency approvals. Alongside this expansion, Qantas has announced a new codeshare partnership with Johannesburg-based Airlink, which will dramatically extend its reach across South Africa.

This partnership allows seamless travel between Qantas flights to Johannesburg and nine other South African destinations, including Cape Town, Durban, and Hoedspruit, with plans to expand to more destinations in the near future.

Tickets for the A380 flights are now available on the Qantas website and via travel agents, with codeshare connections on Airlink ready for travel from late October 2024. All Qantas international fares come with checked baggage, meals, beverages, and qantas entertainment movie list ensuring a comfortable journey for every passenger.