AVIATION/ AA 737 OVERSHOOTS RUNWAY IN JAMAICA

Dozens of people were injured last evening, when an AMERICAN AIRLINES Boeing 737 overshot the runway upon landing in Kingston, Jamaica, in a heavy rainstorm. AA Flight 338 had originated at Washington National, and had made a stop in Miami, Florida, before departing for Kingston with 148 passengers and 6 crew members onboard. The 737's fuselage cracked, both engines broke off, and the landing gear collapsed when the aircraft went off the rain slicked runway at 10:22pm. According to Jamaican officials, a wall of sand was the only thing that prevented the airliner from going into the waters of the Caribbean Sea. Once the aircraft came to a stop, about 10 feet from the Caribbean Sea, emergency slides were deployed, while Emergency Services responded. 44 people were transported to local hosptials, with most suffering from broken bones. Officials report that 4 people suffered serious injurires, but none of those injuries are said to be life-threatening.

Passengers reported that the flight was very turbulent, with the crew being forced to halt the beverage service 3 times before finally giving it up. Just before landing, the Pilot warned of more turbulence but said it likely wouldn't be much worse than what they had experienced so far. Officials from the NTSB will be on scene to open the investigation. Among items that will be looked at is the weather, and if the aircraft should have been landing during the heavy rainstorm. The Kingston Airport re-opened this morning, but officials have delayed flights because of concerns that the plane's tail might be hindering visibility.