Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday expressed deep condolences over the death of 40 people in a military plane crash on Saturday afternoon.

The transport aircraft crashed in East China's Anhui Province, killing all the 40 people on board, Air Force sources said on Sunday.

"The motherland and people will never forget their (the victims') heroic names and merits," Hu, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, the country's top military command, said in his message of condolence.

All the victims of the crash had "firmly remembered the sacred mission endowed on them by the Party and the people" and had "defied all hardships to faithfully perform their duties," said Hu.

"They have made important contributions to national defense and the modernization of the army," he added.

Hu also extended consolations to the families of the victims.

The Air Force sources said that immediately after learning the crash, Hu had ordered an investigative team be sent to the crash scene to probe into the cause and properly handle the follow-up issues.

Hu also demanded the military draw lesson from the crash "in a serious and earnest manner."

A special workgroup headed by General Guo Boxiong, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, had flown to the crash scene to organize and direct the investigation.

According to the Air Force sources, the aircraft was on a mission when it crashed. No details were available about the mission, the exact location of the crash or the identities of the victims.