American Airlines breaks in three at Norman Manley Airport

[malaise]

in Jamaica. 90 people in hospital. No one died - that is one hell of a surprise.

Rain was pelting all day in Kingston.

An American Airlines spokesman said that a flight from Miami overshot the runway Tuesday in Kingston, Jamaica, but came to a safe stop. He said there were no immediate reports of serious injuries or fatalities.

Charley Wilson said all passengers were off Flight 331. It took off from Miami International Airport at 8:52 p.m. Tuesday and was scheduled to arrive at Norman Manley International Airport at 10:27 p.m. He said the flight was nearly full and that normally there are 140 passengers plus the crew.

Kingston policeman O'Neil Hinds, speaking from police headquarters, said officers at the scene reported that the plane went off the end of the runway.
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caps

[malaise]

1. Passengers who were walking on the main road

were picked up by the public bus. Apparently the plane landed between the road and the wide beach at the end of the runway.

[malaise]

2. Gleaner report

http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=15461

We have live TV coverage. How no one died is the shock

[Dennis Donovan]

3. I'm assuming that's near you - did you hear the emergency vehicles last night?

[malaise]

4. Not near me at all

http://www.maplandia.com/jamaica/airports/kingston-airport/
The airport is on a lonely stretch of land.

[Dennis Donovan]

5. I see - it's across the bay from Jamaica proper...

Nonetheless, glad to hear no fatalities. You would think that, given the aircraft broke into 3 sections there would've been more carnage. Perhaps, because it was the last leg of the flight, a fire wasn't prevalent due to low fuel quantities on board.

[hayu_lol]

6. Supposedly landed in a heavy rain...

if it made the runway, hydroplaning could have created the overshoot.

[malaise]

8. It made the runway

Read the last report with passengers. Rain was pelting - the airport should have been closed but you know the noise that would create with the Holiday rush home.

[malaise]

12. Some pics

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Plane-crash-at-airport

[malaise]

7. It's the only leg of the flight

That's the one I take normally but the flight was full to capacity so it must have used up the fuel. If you see what's left of the aircraft, you'd know how lucky they were. Four people were seriously injured. The plane stopped short of going into the very rough sea). Give thanks for those boulders and the fact that the beach slopes upwards in that area.

Here's another decent report -
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091223/lead/lead1.html

Newstalk radio will have live coverage from 7.00am

http://newstalk.com.jm/LiveStream.htm

If you can pick up TVJ on Jump TV, they have live coverage. Looks like the plane only split in two and one engine fell off.

[Dennis Donovan]

9. I stand corrected - I should've said the last part of the flight...

...which would be the landing phase, of course.;)

[malaise]

11. Yep lots of luck

landed on the sand eventually 10-15 feet from the sea.

[Dennis Donovan]

13. Wow! Had the aircraft skidded further..

...there might've been drowning deaths.

[malaise]

15. Hubby and I swim at Cable hut - the closest decent beach to the

airport - when the elders tell us not to swim we don't even go in the water. We never swim at Tumble Over - the beach down the road from the crash. That water has the worst currents on the island.

No aircraft can leave until they remove the tail of the American Airlines plane. I think I'll drive out to see how the people from Port Royal are suffering this morning in terms of getting out of their isolated town.

[FLSurfer]

17. Cable Hut?

Is that the beach in Bull Bay?
I go down to Kingston a few times a year to surf.
Literally at the end of the runway, west of the Lighthouse.
I'm going in January. Scary stuff.

[malaise]

18. 100% correct

You well know it's a surfing beach.

Here's a good report
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/23/plane-overshoots-runway-jamaica-storm

[FLSurfer]

19. And a beautiful beach even if one doesn't surf.

I stay with a surfing family right there on the beach.
You are very lucky to live in such a beautiful place.

I'll make a point to catch the early flight for better visibility.
Best wishes to all those involved in yesterday's mishap.

[malaise]

20. Horrible weather was the problem

last night.
I know that family very well :D
It's a nice swimming water for real swimmers, but by no means a beautiful beach.

[malaise]

14. Actually you're right

This flight started in DC, stopped in Miami and headed for Kingston.

[Dennis Donovan]

16. I stand un-corrected?

:crazy::hi:

[malaise]

10. They're now saying broke in two

One engine came off.

[spanone]

21. when i saw that report, first thing i thought about was YOU....

:hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi:

[malaise]

22. Hubby's niece arrived on the earlier flight

from Miami and my good friend's daughter, hubby and three month old baby are coming in tonight on that same DC/Miami flight.

Everyone on board that aircraft was very lucky last night. Ten more feet and that part of the Caribbean sea would not have been too kind.

[malaise]

23. American Airlines claimed that the aircraft did not break apart

WTF????? Passengers said they left the aircraft through the breakage.


Great report from GEM$NBC - clearly they are using Jamaican media reports
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34566869/ns/world_news-americas/from/ET

[SoCalDem]

25. I guess their medical plan does not include Optical coverage

:rofl:

everyone was sooooooo lucky ..

people don't realize how scary some island airports are.. When we landed at St Thomas, I swear the rear wheels landed in the water:rofl:..and a few weeks later a plane did run into the terminal ...

[malaise]

27. I've never been scared landing at Norman Manley in Kingston

Sangsters in Mobay and clearly the airport in St Maarten. The worst island airport for me is Canefield in Dominica. Thankfully they have a newer one.

sp

[suffragette]

24. That must have been terrifying

Amazing and wonderful that most made it out fine.

[malaise]

29. Yep I would have needed a bathroom

:D

[suffragette]

30. I think it would have been too late to get to a bathroom for me

:P

Happy Holidays to you my friend.
:hug:

[malaise]

31. Back at you and yours

my friend :hug:

[malaise]

32. Here's another pic

[suffragette]

33. Just stunning

Is the cockpit crushed or just broken wide open?

[Zoeisright]

26. If it 'broke into three parts' how in the world is that considered

a 'safe stop'??

[malaise]

28. When 154 of you come out alive after that crash,

the aircraft didn't explode and it missed the very rough currents in that part of the Caribbean sea by 10ft I'd call that luck.