The governor of a Caribbean island said the survival of 130 people was a miracle after a Boeing 737 packed with holidaymakers crashed in a thunderstorm and broke apart on the runway.
Only one of the 131 people on board died in yesterday's crash on Colombia's San Andres Island.
The jet crashed short of the runway and skidded on its belly as the fuselage fractured and bits of landing gear and at least one engine were ripped off.
The aircraft ended up on one end of the runway, crumpled and in pieces, as passengers scrambled or were helped to safety.
Of the 125 passengers and six crew members aboard the Aires airline jet, the only one killed was a 68-year-old woman, Amar Fernandez de Barreto, said San Andres governor Pedro Gallardo.
"It was a miracle and we have to give thanks to God," Mr Gallardo said.
Officials were investigating a range of possible causes and looking into reports that Aires Flight 8520 was hit by lightning before the crash on the resort island, Colombian air force colonel David Barrero said.
"You can't speculate. Lightning? A gust of wind? The investigation will say," Col Barrero said. "The pilot's skill kept the plane from colliding with the airport."
Officials said 119 people were treated or checked at clinics and five of them were seriously injured.
The airline said at least five US citizens were on the plane, while the US embassy in Colombia said four Americans and one US permanent resident suffered injuries. One critically-injured American was being flown to Bogota.
Airline representative Erika Zarante said four Brazilians, two Germans, two Costa Ricans and two French citizens were also on the plane.
The accident happened so suddenly that the pilot did not report an emergency to the control tower, said Col Donald Tascon, deputy director of the civil aeronautics agency.
He said the plane's low altitude as it prepared to land - perhaps 100 feet just before the crash - may have averted worse damage.
Passenger Ricardo Ramirez, a civil engineer, told Caracol Radio that all had seemed normal, even though the plane was flying through a storm, with flashes of lightning, as it neared the airport.
"The plane was coming in perfectly. We were just about to land, everything was under control," he said. The accident "appeared out of nowhere".
After the plane hit and skidded to a stop on the pavement, Mr Ramirez said he struggled to free himself and his wife from their seat belts.
"We tried to get out of the plane because the plane was starting to shoot flames," he said. "In a few minutes, a police patrol arrived and helped us."
Survival was "a miracle of God. Thanks to God we are alive," he said. His wife suffered a dislocated shoulder.
The jet crashed at 1.49 am local time on the island, a resort area of 78,000 people about 120 miles east of the Nicaraguan coast.
Ninety-nine passengers were taken to Amor de Patria Hospital on San Andres. hospital director Dr Robert Sanchez said: "It's incredible. For the dimension (of the accident), there should be more.".
Dr Sanchez said an initial examination indicated that the lady's death may have been caused by a heart attack.
The airline, Aerovias de Integracion Regional SA, said it had about 20 planes, including 10 Boeing 737-700 jets. It said in a Twitter posting that it was "working and investigating with the aeronautical authorities to determine the causes".
Boeing said the 737-700 jet left the factory in 2003. It was not clear whether Aires was the first operator.