At least 22 people were reported to have been killed and more than 90 injured when an Indonesian passenger plane carrying more than 140 passengers and crew burst into flames as it landed on Java island early today.
The Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737-400, whose passengers included around 10 Australian journalists and diplomatic staff, overshot the runway of Yogyakarta airport and caught fire.
Garuda Airlines said 21 passengers and one crew member died in the incident, contradicting an Indonesian government official who earlier gave a figure of 49 deaths.
The jet started shaking violently before landing and then overshot the runway, hitting fences and slamming into a rice field before 7am local time (0.00 GMT).
Some survivors said the fire began at the front of the plane before engulfing the aircraft.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered a thorough investigation into the crash, appointing the security minister to probe possible "non-technical" causes, said spokesman Andi Mallarangengeng, in an apparent reference to sabotage.
"It is a terrible tragedy," Australian Prime Minister John Howard told a television news conference. "Many lives have been lost and our love and sympathy and condolences go to those who are suffering distress and grief."
Mr Howard said he had no information suggesting that the fire was caused by foul play. "I have not received any advice suggesting it was anything other than a tragic accident," he said. "I've not received any advice suggesting that there was sabotage or a terrorist attack."
The Australians were heading to Yogyakarta for a visit there by foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer, who was in Indonesia for an anti-terror conference. He was not on board the jet.
Around two hours after the accident firefighters extinguished the blaze, which had gutted the plane, witnesses said.
Indonesia has been hit by a string of transportation disasters in recent months. In late December, a passenger ferry sank in a storm in the Java Sea, killing more than 400 people. Days later, a passenger plane operated by the budget airline Adam Air crashed into the ocean, killing all 102 people on board. A ship that sank near the capital's port left at least 50 dead.