American Airlines Flight 331 overshot a runway late Tuesday night in Jamaica.The crash occurred during heavy rain.
The Associated Press reports the plane skidded across a road at Kingston'sNorman Manley International Airport. The plane came to a rest at the edge ofthe Caribbean Sea. Its nose was less than 10 feet from the water. An upwardslope of the sand was said to have kept the plane from entering the water.
The incident took place at 10:20 p.m. EST Tuesday night. Heavy rain at thattime had dropped visibility to 1.25 miles. The drenching rain was falling alonga stationary front draped over the north-central Caribbean Islands. It had beenraining at Kingston since 8 p.m.
Flight 331 was traveling from Miami to Kingston, after originating inWashington, D.C., with 148 passengers and six crew members on board. About 44people were reportedly taken to the hospital. CNN, however, states that numberis 91.
American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith told the Associated Press that there wasdamage to the fuselage, the right engine broke off, and the landing gear on theplane's left side had collapsed.
Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski
