According to the Military Leader, a Philippine Air Force C-130 plane transporting troops crashed in a southern region Sunday after missing the runway, and at least 40 persons on board were rescued from the flaming wreckage.

After the plane crashed on landing soon before noon in Bangkal hamlet in the mountainous town of Patikul in Sulu province, Chief of Staff Gen. Cirilito Sobejana did not immediately specify how many people were on board or if there were any deaths.

According to Sobejana, the plane was bringing troops from Cagayan de Oro’s southern district. Government soldiers have been fighting Abu Sayyaf militants in Sulu’s predominantly Muslim territory for decades.

Sobejana told reporters, “It’s very unfortunate.” “The plane missed the runway and attempted to regain power, but it was unable, and it crashed.”

At least 40 passengers on board were taken to a hospital, according to Sobejana, and military were attempting to save the others.

The cause of the collision was not immediately known.

It has been raining in the Philippines’ central region, however it is unclear whether the weather in the Sulu region has been influenced. The Airport in Jolo, Sulu’s capital, is a few kilometers from a mountainous area where military have fought the Abu Sayyaf. Some militants have joined the Daesh terrorist organization.

The Abu Sayyaf has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the Philippines, respectively, for bombings, ransom kidnappings, and beheadings. Years of government offensives have greatly degraded it, yet it still poses a threat.