I was just listening to National Public Radio. Apparantly, the plane was struck by lightning midway down the runway, and lost electrical power, and possibly hydraulics and reverse thrusters.
The Airbus was carrying 297 passengers, and 12 crew members, and it is believed there were _no fatalities_
Hard to believe, conidering it broke into two pieces and caught fire, but it is of course possible, and I certainly hope, true.