By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife
KINGSTON, JAMAICA (BosNewsLife)– U.S. Evangelist Andrew Palau and his family were among 148 passengers on board American Airlines Flight 331 that skidded off the runway and crashed in Kingston, Jamaica, but they miraculously survived with light injuries, his world famous father told BosNewsLife, late Wednesday, December 24.
“We are grateful to the Lord that no one on the flight suffered any life-threatening injuries,” said preacher and author Luis Palau in a statement. “Andrew has a couple black eyes from hitting his head during the crash, but we are extremely thankful the family was not seriously hurt,” he added.
Andrew and Wendy Palau and their three children Christopher, Jonathan and Sadie were traveling to Jamaica for the Christmas holidays to visit Wendy’s Jamaican family. The plane skidded across the runway in an apparently blinding rainstorm before breaking apart into three sections on the beach near the Caribbean Sea.
The Palaus were seated behind an exit row and managed to escape the plane by jumping onto the wing and then onto the wet sand, said Gail and Bud Lindstrand, the National Prayer Coordinators of the Luis Palau Association.
ESCAPING PLANE
“The Palaus were among the 148 passengers and six crew members who miraculously survived the crash, escaping with minor injuries,” they added.
However the family lost all of their belongings and documents and Luis Palau said he asked his supporters to “pray for them, and particularly the children, as they recover physically and emotionally.” Yet, “We praise God for protecting Andrew and his family,” he said.
Andrew Palau became a Christian in 1993 and, like his father, soon an evangelist, according to the Luis Palau Association. “Recent outreaches have taken him to Rwanda, Romania, Egypt, Mexico, India, Poland, and again Jamaica where he has shared the Gospel with thousands, demonstrating much of his father’s passion and love for Christ and for evangelism,” his Website said.
Andrew and his family live in Portland, Oregon, close to the world headquarters of the Palau ministry. (Follow BosNewsLife on Twitter)
