Nine Australians were passengers on a Garuda flight that crashed at around 11am at Yogyakarta airport today.
According to Sky News, 5 of the Australians are accounted for.
A Fairfax journalist, Cynthia Banham, has been rescued from the plane and is undergoing surgery at an air force hospital near the airport.
The Australians were journalists and diplomatic staff travelling to Indonesia to cover a visit by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer. Mr. Downer was travelling separately in a VIP plane.
The Prime Minister, John Howard, speaking at a press conference in Melbourne, warned of bad news to come as the casualty count is determined. The plane exploded in flames following its landing. There is no suggestion of terrorism.
- Listen to Howard’s Press Conference on the Indonesian Plane Crash.
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