Some Philippine troops jump before military plane crashes in flames, killing at least 45

Residents gather as smoke rises from the wreckage, after a Philippines Air Force Lockheed C-130 transport plane, carrying troops, crashed on landing in Jolo, Sulu, Philippines July 4, 2021 in this image obtained from social media. Bogs Muhajiran via REUTERS

MANILA (Reuters) -A Philippines Air Force troop plane crashed and broke up in flames on a southern island on Sunday, killing at least 45 people after some jumped free, officials said, in the country's worst military air disaster in nearly 30 years.

Pictures from the scene showed flames and smoke pouring from wreckage strewn among coconut palms as men in combat uniform milled around, while a column of thick black smoke rose into the sky.