Latest news with #MD80Series
Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Dramatic moment tourists sent flying as plane takes off just metres away
In the clip, thrill-seeking tourists are sent flying into the sea after being hit by a powerful jet blast from a plane taking off near Maho Beach in the Dutch Caribbean territory of Sint Maarten Shocking footage captures the moment a horde of sunbathing tourists were blown into the sea by a low-flying jet plane. Holidaymakers were given the shock of their lives when the aeroplane took off just 20 metres above their heads and sent down huge gusts of wind, scattering their belongings and knocking them to the ground. The incident unfolded on Maho Beach in the Dutch Caribbean territory of Sint Maarten, which is located just yards from the runway of the busy Princess Juliana International Airport. Signs dotted around the area warn tourists to stay away, as the powerful jet blasts can cause 'severe physical harm and/or death'. In the video, shared on X (formerly Twitter), a large MD80 Series aircraft is seen loudly gearing up for takeoff as a small crowd watches on from outside the airport fence. While the spectators initially appear excitable as it becomes airborne - with a few waving to the aeroplane - things quickly become perilous as it speeds up and passes overhead, releasing a powerful stream of air. The impact causes several people to lose their balance and tumble over into the sand, and a number of them are even pushed into the waves of the sea nearby. One voice in the background is heard saying: "Oh my god!" Another says: "Look at that." The beach area outside the airport has become something of an unconventional tourist attraction in recent years after previous videos went viral online. But on social media this week, many commenters seemed unimpressed with the "stupidity" of those who would risk their lives to get so close to the planes. One wrote: "That's a lot of stupid people voluntarily getting sandblasted with sand and jetfuel exhaust fumes". A different user who claimed to have visited the beach said: "The experience is ferocious. The hot wind (exhaust) with sand feels like you're getting sandblasted alive." One former visitor discouraged others from the experience, writing: "I did this, and ended up with a glass shard lodged in my back. 10/10 wouldn't recommend." Someone else said: "The levels of stupidity in this video are unbounded." In 2017, a tourist from New Zealand died after watching planes take off with her family and other tourists on Maho Beach. Mum-of-three Gayleen McEwan, 57, hit her head when she was knocked over by the blast of a jetliner taking off at the airport. She was given CPR at the scene but died a short time later from her injuries. After meeting with her bereaved family St Maarten tourist director, Rolando Brison, told the New Zealand Herald at the time: "While they recognised that what they did was wrong, through the clearly visible danger signs, they regret that risk they took turned out in the worst possible way."
New York Post
12-05-2025
- New York Post
‘Dumb' beachgoing tourists blown away by airplane in wild video: ‘That's a lot of stupid people'
Dramatic footage has captured the moment dozens of beachgoers were blown away after standing directly behind an airplane during takeoff. The incident occurred at the famous Maho Beach in the Caribbean territory of Sint Maarten, where planes fly just 20 metres above the heads of tourists. Footage posted to social media shows a large MD80 Series aircraft spinning around for take off as its loud engines rumble. Onlookers can be heard giggling as they whip their phones and ipads out, while others run towards the airport fence to get a closer look. All of a sudden, the plane roars and a massive engine air blast sends objects and people flying. 3 Dramatic footage has captured the moment dozens of beachgoers were blown away after standing directly behind an airplane during takeoff. Reddit/u/NikonD3X1985 People can be seen dropping to the ground and holding on to whatever they can find as they tumble towards the ocean along with their possessions. The man filming can be heard saying 'Damn' as he races to get out of the jet's direct line. 'Look at all of those people's stuff,' he laughs before panning towards the ocean where belongings can be seen floating away. Viewers were less than impressed with many branding the risky act as 'dumb' and 'ignorant'. 'That's a lot of stupid people voluntarily getting sandblasted with sand and jetfuel exhaust fumes,' commented one person. 'The experience is ferocious. The hot wind (exhaust) with sand feels like you're getting sandblasted alive,' said one viewer who had experienced it themselves. 'I did this, and ended up with a glass shard lodged in my back. 10/10 wouldn't recommend,' wrote another. 'The levels of stupidity in this video are unbounded,' joked a fourth. 3 Viewers were less than impressed with many branding the risky act as 'dumb' and 'ignorant'. Reddit/u/NikonD3X1985 The notorious beach spot is incredibly popular with tourists due to its proximity to the Princess Juliana International Airport. The beginning of the runway is just 50m from the beach fence, offering aviation lovers a prime seat to a once-in-a-lifetime show. Tourists regularly pose for videos and selfies as jumbo jets fly overhead, with the strength of the jet blast from the planes often propelling watchers into the sea, and causing clothing to be ripped from their bodies. Despite prominent warning signs in the area instructing beachgoers not to stand near the fence, hundreds of tourists take their chances anyway. 3 Footage posted to social media shows a large MD80 Series aircraft spinning around for take off as its loud engines rumble. Reddit/u/NikonD3X1985 In 2017, a New Zealand woman died after a blast from a Boeing 737 aircraft knocked her into a retaining wall where she subsequently hit her head on the concrete. The 57-year-old had been standing at the fence that separates the beach from the runway. The woman had been hanging onto the fence along with several others, according to local police. In a statement, authorities acknowledged that watching planes take off and land at the airport is 'well known worldwide as a major tourist attraction,' but that doing so is extremely dangerous. Police continue to monitor the beach daily and reinforce that the risky behaviour can cause 'severe physical harm and/or death.'
