Philippine plane crashes, 131 killed

Flight GAP 541 was packed to capacity with holidaymakers leaving the capital for the long Easter break, which begins on Thursday.

If the death toll is confirmed, it will be the worst aircrash in the Philippines.

Defence Secretary Orlando Mercado told Reuters the plane circled over Davao airport preparing to land and then crashed into mountains on Samal island nearby, which is well known in the Philippines for its popular beach and diving resorts.

Davao, the second-largest city in the Philippines, is about 1,000 km (620 miles) southeast of Manila and Samal is just off the Davao mainland.

"There was a low cloud ceiling over the runway, but we have no information what caused the crash," Mercado said.

"According to initial reports, there were no survivors," he added.

Air transport office assistant secretary Jacinto Ortega said the pilot of an air force helicopter at the crash site had seen no signs of life.

"As per the pilot of the rescue chopper, there were no survivors," Ortega told the DZRH radio station.

Parts of the wreckage were burning and body parts were strewn around the site, radio reports said. The tail was intact, one report said.

Ortega said the weather and visibility were fair and there was no immediate explanation of what caused the crash.

Airline officials said there were 120 adult passengers on board, four infants, two pilots, a mechanic and four cabin crew.