Asia-Pacific

Dozen feared dead in Philippine military plane crash

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-28 13:51

MANILA: About a dozen people, including a general, were feared to have been killed when a military plane crashed into a residential area in Cotabato city Thursday morning, officials said.

Major Gerardo Zamudio, the Air Force spokesman, told Xinhua over the phone that eight officers and officials, including a general from Eastern Mindanao Command, were on board when it crashed into houses outside Cotabato airport at around 11:35 a.m. local time (0335 GMT).

Witnesses and local officials in Cotabato told Xinhua that all passengers were feared dead while there is undetermined number of casualties on the ground. Footages of local television showed that concrete houses were destroyed and fire engulfed the crash site.

The Nomad plane flew in Cotabato from southern city of Davao and it was heading towards Zamboanga city after loading and unloading some passengers, officials said.