A C-130 plane of the Air Force landed in Sulu on Friday, the first time since July 4 when a similar type of plane crashed in the province, killing 50 soldiers on board and three civilians on the ground.
The plane, with tail number 5011, landed at the Jolo airport to pick up 65 soldiers who were later transported to Manila for Yuletide break. Also on board were three military dependents and two civilians.
Last July, the C-130 plane with tail number 5125 overshot the runway of the Jolo airport, failed to regain power, and crashed at a settlement area in Patikul town. It was transporting Army soldiers from Cagayan de Oro City who were due to help fight Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Sulu.
Fifty soldiers onboard and three civilians on the ground died and 46 other soldiers and four civilians on the ground were injured. Most of the fatalities could not be immediately identified because they were burnt.
The Air Force grounded its several C-130s after the incident. Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Maynard Mariano said its C-130s returned to action sometime in October after investigation showed the crash was caused by a combination of material, human and environmental factors.
“This is our simple way of honoring the selfless service of our comrades-in-arms,” said Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr, commander of the Zamboanga City-based AFP Western Mindanao Command, in announcing the resumption of C-130 flights in Sulu.
“By sending them home safely to spend the holiday season with their families, we are able to boost their morale. We are also able to help them financially by providing them with free transportation,” added Rosario.
Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, commander of military’s Joint Task Sulu, said last Friday’s landing of the C-130 plane in Sulu “ signifies that we are ready to move forward.”
“We hope that this momentous event will totally heal us from the trauma we had due to the accident last July 4,” said Gonzales.
Gonzales said the resumption of C-130 flights in Sulu is a welcome development for soldiers who are raring to be with their families during the Christmas season.
“It is very timely and economical that the C-130 aircraft is once again has its operational flights in Jolo,” the JTF Sulu said in a statement.
