Officials say a Philippine military plane carrying troops crashed and exploded into flames after missing the runway in the country's south on Sunday, killing at least 45 people and injuring 50 more.

Around lunchtime, a C-130 Hercules cargo jet carrying around 100 people, the majority of whom were recent army grads, attempted to land on Jolo island in Sulu province.

According to Major General William Gonzales, commander of the Joint Task Force-Sulu, several of the soldiers were spotted jumping out of the jet before it crashed and burst in flames.

It was one of the deadliest military aircraft accidents in the country's history.

In a statement, Gonzales stated, "This is a sad day, but we must remain positive."

"We implore the nation to pray for those who have been hurt as well as those who have died as a result of this catastrophe."

The hunt for 17 people who have gone missing is still ongoing.

The damaged tail and the smoldering debris of the fuselage's back part were seen near coconut palms in photos supplied by the Joint Task Force-Sulu.

Images posted to Pondohan TV's Facebook page showed the wreckage engulfed in flames, with a plume of dense black smoke rising above nearby homes.