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...
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