Local family counts blessings after jet accident
BEAVERTON, Ore. - The brother of international evangelist Andrew Palau described on Wednesday his brother’s harrowing experience on American Airlines Flight 331 when it overshot the runway in Jamaica and stopped just short of plunging into the Caribbean Sea.
“Andrew got a couple black eyes I think from just hitting the seat in front (of him), and I think most of the overhead bins popped open so there was luggage and stuff falling on people,” said Kevin Palau who lives in Beaverton and spoke to his brother by phone after the incident.
Andrew is known for his preaching and mega-Christian festivals, and the brothers’ father, Luis, is also a famous evangelist known the world over.
Kevin said his brother told him the flight was turbulent and the landing was noisier and harder than normal, crushing the landing gear and cracking the fuselage. 
Andrew had to have some stitches, and his wife Wendy and their three children received some scrapes and bruises.
Television images of the American Airlines plane crumpled and broken was difficult for the Palau family to watch, Kevin said.
He said his brother and family were directly behind the exit row and, covered with jet fuel, ran from the plane and flagged down help.
“We didn’t know a thing about this plane skidding off the runway in Jamaica until he called saying, ‘You’re going to see this on the news, don’t worry, we’re fine.’”
Kevin said he’s been in constant contact with Andrew since that phone call.
“Bad things happen to good people,” Kevin said. “There’s a mystery, but in this case we’re certainly grateful to God. God loves us and has a great plan for us. And in this case we do look at this as miraculous.”
After touching down Tuesday night in a fierce rain, the Boeing 737-800 slammed into the runway of Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport. The aircraft skidded to a halt at the edge of the sea, leaving battered and bruised passengers screaming in panic as the smell of jet fuel spread through the darkened cabin, which had cracked open in places.
All 154 people aboard survived, with 92 taken to hospitals and 13 admitted, but none of the injuries was considered to be life-threatening, said Jamaican Information Minister Daryl Vaz. One woman had surgery for a broken nose and cuts to her face.
The Palau’s 2-year-old was in a car seat and the family said they believe that protected her. Their passports and luggage were missing.
Andrew’s wife is from Jamaica, so they will be with her family for the next three weeks.
The investigation is ongoing into why the plane skidded off the runway but some aviation experts said they believe the pilot was descending too fast for the weather conditions at the time.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.