Survivors of a Boeing 737 jetliner crash have described the moment the plane came down in a thunderstorm and broke apart as it slid onto the runway on a Caribbean island.

Only one of the 131 people on board died, and the island's governor called it "a miracle".

The plane smashed short of the runway on Colombia's San Andres Island and skidded on its belly as the fuselage fractured as bits of landing gear and at least one engine were ripped off.

Amateur video showed police and emergency teams helping passengers out of the debris.

"When the accident happened, we were just in front of the airport, we went in immediately with 16 units and we evacuated everybody," said Hector Paez Valderrama, the commander of San Andres police force.

Officials are said to be investigating reports the Aires airline jet was hit by lightning before the crash on the resort island.

One passenger said that she heard a "loud noise" just before landing. Other causes are also being investigated.

Of the 125 passengers and six crew members aboard Aires Flight 8520, the only one killed was a 68-year-old woman, Amar Fernandez de Barreto. Officials said 119 people are being treated or checked at clinics and five of them are seriously injured.