American Airlines jet crashes in Jamaica but passengers walk away

Flight AA 331 from Miami arrived in heavy rain at Kingston airport late Tuesday.

"The aircraft totally overshot the runway and ended up over the road in the sand," said Paul Hall, senior vice president of operations at Norman Manley International Airport.

One of the jet's engines broke off, it's landing gear fell apart and the aircraft body was cracked in the accident, officials said.

Passengers had initially applauded what appeared to be a safe landing at the popular winter sun destination, according to media reports.

But the Boeing 737 jet ploughed through the perimeter fence, skidded across a road and ended up on the beachfront. The airport was immediately closed and all other flights diverted.

Information Minister Daryl Vaz told the Jamaica Observer newspaper that most of the 40 injured passengers were taken to Kingston Public Hospital and that there were no reports of fatalities.