Dozens of passengers were injured when an Aeromexico airliner crashed in after taking off in the northern state of Durango, Mexico, on Tuesday. Weather played a role in the crash, authorities said, with both strong winds and hail present at the time the plane tried to take off.

Durango state Gov. Jose Aispuro said a gust of wind hit flight AM2431 heading from the city of Durango to Mexico City just as it was lifting off the tarmac, forcing the pilot to abort takeoff.

Winds were shifting at the time due to nearby thunderstorms, weather.com meteorologist Jonathan Belles said. Earlier, thunderstorms with strong winds and heavy rain with marble-sized hail lashed Durango city, damaging hangars at the airport.

"You start gaining speed and as soon as you start taking off all of the sudden the plane starts struggling and it's getting hit with hail," said Alberto Herrera, a 35-year-old from Chicago who survived the crash. "The higher up we went into the storm the heavier the hail got and more wind got to us. Then all of a sudden the plane starts rocking and it starts seriously, seriously moving around and then hitting the ground."

All 103 people aboard were able to escape advancing flames before fire engulfed the aircraft. Aispuro Torres said 49 people had been hospitalized, most with minor injuries. Aispuro said all were expected to live.

The pilot suffered the most serious injury, a cervical lesion that required surgery. Some people had burns on a quarter of their bodies, said Durango state Health Ministry spokesman Fernando Ros.

Passengers said they heard a loud noise as the plane’s left wing banged to the ground, and both engines tore loose. The plane stayed upright, though, and the escape slides activated.

After the accident, several passengers walked away from the plane before first responders arrived. Some sought medical help, while others rushed home to loved ones. Officials spent much of the afternoon tracking down survivors to ensure that everyone was accounted for.

Aispuro said it was too soon to speculate on the cause of the crash. Mechanical failure and human error could be factors, but certainly, the weather wasn’t favorable.

Aeromexico Chief Executive Officer Andres Conesa described the day as “very difficult” and credited the timely reaction of crew and passengers for the lack of fatalities.

“Our heart is with those affected and their families,” he said at an evening news conference.

Conesa said 88 adults, nine children and two babies and the crew of two flight attendants and two pilots were aboard the plane.

He said the jetliner had been sent for maintenance in February and the crew was well-rested, having started their work day in Durango.

The website Planespotters.net said the Brazilian-made medium-range jet was about 10 years old and had seen service with two other airlines before joining the Aeromexico fleet.