Tuesday Evening Accident Occurs in Jamaica

ANN Realtime Update 12.23.2009 1015: The NTSB has dispatched a team of investigators to assist the government of Jamaica in its investigation of an accident involving an American Airlines B737-800 (N977AN) yesterday evening. 

NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman has designated senior air safety investigator John Lovell as the U.S. Accredited Representative.  The U.S. team will also include five NTSB aviation specialists as well as technical advisors from the Federal Aviation Administration, American Airlines, Boeing Aircraft Company, and GE Aircraft Engines.

Original Story: An American Airlines 737 has been involved in a late Tuesday evening accident, injuring some 40 people, but thus far is reporting no fatalities.

AAL 737 File Photo

The Boeing single aisle airliner reportedly has broken up into at least three major sections as a result of the landing accident at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica just minutes after 2200 local time, Tuesday. The flight was enroute from Miami and had been carrying a compliment of 148 passengers and 6 crew.

The flight encountered significant turbulence and thunderstorm activity while inbound form Miami and is reported to have "bounced" or otherwise had difficulties in the landing, which resulted in a runway overrun which out the aircraft through a fence and cross a road after exiting the confines of the runway environment. Some media reports are attributing a 'skid' during the landing to passengers who were on the flight. Photos form the scene shows the stricken aircraft coming to a rest just yards from the Caribbean Sea... and a far more complicated/risky potential for hazard to crew and passengers if the flight had continued. Weather reports during the time of the approach indicated that there was heavy rain in the area.

American Airlines officials have reported that the flight involved was American Airlines Flight 331, a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The flight "overran the runway on landing at Kingston, Jamaica's Norman Manley International Airport. The flight originated out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, operated into Miami International Airport, and then operated into Kingston's Norman Manley International Airport."

Additional Details Released By American Airlines

American Airlines has confirmed that two passengers were admitted for observation and treatment at area hospitals; all other passengers that had been taken to local hospitals were treated and released. The aircraft was carrying 148 passengers and a crew of six. American has activated its family assistance CARE Teams to immediately help those affected by this incident.

"The care of our passengers and crew members remains our highest priority, and we are grateful for the professionalism of our crew members who safely evacuated the aircraft," said Gerard Arpey, Chairman and CEO of American Airlines.

ANN is researching additional details and will report them as they are verified...

FMI: www.aa.com, www.ntsb.org