Investigators search Indonesia plane rubble

Mandala Airlines has ruled out terrorism as a cause for yesterday's aircraft crash in northern Indonesia

Mandala Airlines has ruled out terrorism as a cause for yesterday's aircraft crash in northern Indonesia

that killed at least 150 people.

The Mandala Airlines plane went down 500 yards from the Medan airport in north Sumatra, shoving aside cars and motorcycles before ploughing into a row of houses. Witnesses said some people were on fire as they fled the shattered wreckage.

Up to 16 passengers survived the crash, including an 18-month-old shielded by his mother.

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Investigators searched amid the wreckage, and forensic experts struggled to identify the remains of the 147 victims. Authorities consider foul play unlikely, but are examining the possibility of human error or technical failure.

Survivors said the Jakarta-bound Boeing 737-200 started shaking when it reached an altitude of about 100 yards before tilting sharply and smashing to the ground at 940am. Some described a loud bang while the plane was still in flight, followed by a ball of fire.

It was Indonesia's second air disaster in seven months and the sixth worldwide since August 1st.