Speaking to the Herald yesterday, Mr Bertellotti's lucid memories of the final minutes of the flight may cast a clearer picture on the causes of the crash. A veteran air traveller who takes more than 100 flights a year, Mr Bertellotti was four seats back from the wing. He said he was startled that the Boeing 737-400 was coming into Yogyakarta too fast. When he checked the wing, he could clearly see the air brakes above the wing raised, but it appeared the main flaps below were not extended. Normal procedures had not been followed. The announcement to prepare for landing was issued about 10 seconds before the aircraft hit the tarmac, and some of the crew were not in their seats.

Mr Bertellotti felt the aircraft dip suddenly before landing, but he believes the speed of the approach made a crash inevitable. The Herald revealed on Friday that the Garuda pilot had said a down draught slammed the aircraft into the runway and that the wing flaps were malfunctioning. "We were travelling at an incredible speed," Mr Bertellotti said. "Everyone was screaming before the landing because we knew it was too fast.

"I look outside, the air brakes were up, but I saw the airport building passing by in a flash. My impression was the flaps weren't down … "There was no wind at all before the crash. I did feel it dip for just a moment. We were about 50 metres above the ground. There was this fast movement, but already we were approaching too fast. We were already screaming.

"I don't understand why they didn't touch and go [take off and try to land again]. There was a huge bang and that was it." Two stewards were still running towards their seats. The impact threw them into the air. "I am very lucky. I am still alive. I was in seat 21C on the right side and the fire started on the left side four seats in front …

"Everything was incredibly dark, but we saw the light from the rear door and in eight steps I was out. There were six or seven people in front of me. "The hostess was just standing there, showing us the door with her hand and kept silent; it was very strange. Outside there was an incredible silence. No one was speaking. It's incredible the plane didn't catch fire when we crashed - [the fire] only got big after two minutes. In those two minutes most people got out.

"There were a few ambulances but I said I didn't need them because nothing was broken and to use them for the people who were hurt." Mr Bertellotti, a journalist with Italian TV who covers the region from Melbourne, then went into Yogyakarta to meet a cultural official at a conference he was meant to report on. The official helped him buy clothes and glasses. Mr Bertellotti said he then reported back to the airport, but the message appears not to have reached Australian officials.

Mr Bertellotti holds dual Australian and Italian citizenship, which may have added to confusion over his whereabouts. He was listed as an Italian survivor when Australian officials were trying to find the 10th Australian they knew was on the flight. "I went back to the airport later to tell them I was fine. I got a call from Canberra that afternoon. I told them I was fine and not to worry about me but look after the others who were hurt."

He decided to leave immediately, stopping in Jakarta before catching the first flight he could to Melbourne. "I wanted to leave this day behind, and the way was to go back with the ticket I had with Garuda. I think if I don't I won't fly any more." Boarding the flight he was "fighting the shadow of the memory". "I'd like to leave this experience behind. This will live with me forever, but life goes on."