The Lockheed C-130 aircraft had a mishap on landing, the air force said in a statement. “Rescue efforts are ongoing,” it said.

Pictures showed flames and smoke pouring from the wreckage of the aircraft among tress at Patikul in the Sulu province, where the army has long fought Islamist insurgents.

The New York Times reported that 17 bodies had been found and the death count was expected to rise, citing a local commander.

Defence Minister Delfin Lorenzana told Reuters the plane had been carrying 92 people, including three pilots and five other crew members, according to his initial reports.

Armed forces chief Cirilito Sobejaba told reporters that at least 40 people had been rescued from the crashed plane and were not being treated.

As of now, 40 people have been rescued, and a search and rescue mission has already started in the area to save the remaining people on the plane.

“Responders are at the site now, we are praying we can save more lives,” Sobejana said.

This C-130 crashed in Southern Philippines as it tried to land on Jolo island in Sulu province but missed the runway, General Cirilito Sobejana said.

The majority of the passengers on the plane were recent graduates of basic military training and were being transported for deployment to the island as a part of a joint task force fighting terrorism in the Muslim-majority region.