Garuda 737 Crash Claims at least 21 Passengers

At least ten Australian diplomats, Foreign Affairs (DFAT) staff and journalists were aboard a Garuda Indonesia 737-400 that crashed on landing at Adisucipto (or Adisutjipto) International Airport in Yogyakarta in Central Java today (Wednesday, 7th March) at 7am. Adisucipto has but one sealed runway [09/27 with the dimensions of 2,200 X 45 m (7218ft x 150ft)].

Thus far only one journalist is known to have survived and both pilots are thought to have died. Around 50 injured are being treated at the local Air Force hospital. The aircraft was arriving from Jakarta and was carrying 140 people, of whom at least 21 (of 133) passengers are thought to have perished in the post-crash fire. The number of crew that survived is unknown as the figures are being continually revised. Imagery beamed from Indonesian TV shows rescue crews pouring water and foam over a burnt-out fuselage. The only recognizable and unburnt component appears to be the tail of the 737.

The Australian contingent was accompanying Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer on a tour of Indonesian provinces after a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart. Mr Downer was traveling separately with Attorney General Phillip Ruddock in a Royal Australian Air Force VIP 737BBJ. That aircraft is now ferrying medical teams and supplies from Jakarta into Yogyakarta. Syamsudin, the head of the second largest Islamic organization in Indonesia, Muhammadiyah, had been due to meet Downer in Yogjakarta today to discuss terrorism issues. Syamsudin escaped unscathed from the burning PK-GZC.

Garuda Flight GA-200 from Jakarta was seen to touch down well into runway 09 and career through a perimeter fence into a rice-field and across a culvert before exploding into flames. The 15 y.o. aircraft is 4th hand, having been built in 1992 and leased from GECAS since 07/10/2002. It has four overwing exits.