Reportedly Overshot Runway On Landing; Survivors Reported

ANN REALTIME UPDATE 03.06.07 2245 EST: A spokesman for the Indonesian government tells CNN approximately 115 passengers were onboard a Garuda Airlines Boeing 737-400 that apparently overshot the runway at Yogyakarta airport in central Java.

Witnesses say the plane burst into flames as it departed the runway.

Officials aren't certain how many persons were able to escape or be rescued from the burning plane. Government spokesman Andy Mallarangeng said "some" people had been taken to hospitals.

"We are still waiting for the latest information," Mallarangeng said. "Officials are on the site and doing whatever they can for the situation."

The accident appears to be yet another black mark against Indonesia's airline industry. On January 1, an Adam Air 737-400 disappeared with more than 100 passengers onboard. Crews were unable to locate more than a few bits of wreckage from that accident.

Last month, Indonesian officials called for the grounding of all of Adam Air's 737-300 models, after a hard landing literally bent the fuselage of a plane at Juanda Airport in Surabaya. There was talk of extending the forced inspection requirement to all 737s flying for Indonesian carriers.

ORIGINAL REPORT

2200 EST: An airliner, reportedly flying for Indonesian state airline Garuda, overran the runway and burst into flames on landing early Wednesday morning at Yogyakarta airport.

"It is true that a plane caught fire while landing. It happened when it overshot beyond the runway and burst into flames," Yogyakarta provincial secretary Bambang Susanto told Reuters via text message. "The number of passengers is still unclear but we know that there are passengers being treated at the air force hospital."

Witnesses identified the plane as a Boeing 757, according to Reuters. Garuda operates several 737s and 747s, but no 757s.

Local news reports indicate an untold number of passengers may have been trapped onboard the plane, identified by Indonesian state news agency Antara as GA-200, flying from Jakarta. The plane touched down at approximately 1900 EST.

ANN will continue to follow this story, and report when more details are known.

FMI: www.garuda-indonesia.com/