Passengers survive Jamaican plane crash landing

(CNS): An American Airlines Boeing 737 has crash landed in Kingston, Jamaica, when it overshot the runaway in heavy rain. Flight 331 took off from Miami International Airport Tuesday at 8:52 p.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Kingston at 10:27 p.m. According to a statement from American Airlines 154 persons were on board, 148 passengers and six crew members. Forty people are reportedly injured, no one seriously. The flight originated in Ronald Reagan Airport, before stopping at the Miami International Airport, on route to Kingston Jamaica.

According to reports from Jamaica however, the plane ended up in a mangled mess on a beach.  “The aircraft totally overshot the runway and ended up over the road in the sand," said Paul Hall, senior vice president of operations at Norman Manley International Airport. Daryl Vaz, Jamaica’s information minister, told local media that 91 injured passengers had been taken to the Kingston Public Hospital.

One of the jet’s engines broke off, part of the landing gear smashed and the aircraft body was cracked, officials reported. Passengers had initially applauded what appeared to be a safe landing at the popular winter sun destination, but then the aircraft ploughed through the perimeter fence, skidded across a road and ended up on the beachfront. The airport was immediately closed and all flights diverted.

The airline provided the following information numbers (family members only):
(800) 245-0999 for calls originating in the United States;
(800) 872-2881 for calls originating in Jamaica

Family members from other locations outside the U.S. may contact American Airlines through the AT&T Direct Access system. Callers should dial the local AT&T Access telephone number, which can be found at www.usa.att.com/traveler, for the country from which they are calling. Once in the AT&T system, callers can then dial American toll-free at (800) 245-0999. Non-Family members are asked not to call these information numbers above.

48 passengers and six crew members. Forty people are reportedly injured, no one seriously. The flight originated in Ronald ReaganAirport, before stopping at the Miami International Airport, on route to Kingston Jamaica.

 Cayman Airways has confirmed that its flights to Jamaica have not been affected.