A Caribbean Airlines jet crashed on landing in Guyana before dawn Saturday, but the 163 people on board escaped serious injury.

Officials say the jet skidded past the end of the runway in the rain at Georgetown's Cheddi Jagan International Airport. The Boeing 737 aircraft broke in two came to rest in a field on the edge of a 60-meter deep.

Investigators from the United States and Guyana will retrieve the flight data and voice recorders for analysis in determining what caused the crash.

Flight 523 had left from New York and arrived in Guyana's capital after a brief stop in Trinidad.

Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo came to the airport and said he was very, very thankful and grateful that there were no deaths.

Officials say rescue efforts were hampered by rain and darkness. Some passengers were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, but the most serious injury appears to have been a broken leg.