American Airlines Flight 331 carrying 148 passengers plus 6 crew skidded off the runway in Kingston Jamaica during a landing in heavy rain last night.  The aircraft stopped just short of the Caribbean Sea and all passengers and crew were able to evacuate safely.

The impact cracked the fuselage, crushed the left landing gear and separated both engines from the Boeing 737-800.

A total of 44 people were taken to hospitals with none life threatening injuries.

The plane came to a halt about 20 feet from the Caribbean Sea. Passengers walked along the beach where they were picked up by a bus.

The plane originated at Reagan National Airport in Washington and took off from Miami International Airport at 8:52 p.m. and arrived in Kingston at 10:22 p.m.