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CANBERRA - The remains of five Australians killed in the Indonesian jet crash have arrived back in Australia.
The Royal Australian Airforce Hercules carrying the remains has touched down at Canberra's Fairbairn airbase.
The five Australians killed in the GA200 flight from Jakarta to Yogyakarta were Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers Brice Steele and Mark Scott, diplomat Liz O'Neill, AusAID's Allison Sudradjat and Australian Financial Review journalist Morgan Mellish.
Governor-General Major-General Michael Jeffery and deputy prime minister Mark Vaile, representing Prime Minister John Howard, were at the airport to meet the caskets.
Other dignitaries in attendance at the ceremony include Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock, Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd and many other government ministers.
AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) secretary Michael L'estrange are also at the ceremony.
Friends and family of the victims have moved onto the tarmac where the plane has come to a halt and the rear ramp has been lowered to the ground.
The first casket to leave the plane will be that of Mr Mellish, followed by Ms O'Neill's, Agent Scott's, Agent Steele's and finally Ms Sudradjat's.
Four Australian and four AFP flags are flying at half mast on the edge of the runway.
Twenty AFP officers marched onto the tarmac and entered the Hercules, followed by AFP drummer Steve Terrance.
Mr Mellish's coffin was brought out of the Hercules, draped in the Australian flag.
It was carried by eight AFP officers walking in a slow march, and was accompanied by Constable Terrance.
Today was to have been Mr Mellish's 37th birthday.
- AAP
