Latest news with #PrincessJulianaInternationalAirport
NDTV
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
This Beach Is So Close To An Airport, Jet Blasts Can Blow People Away. Watch Viral Video
Many beaches have become world-famous for different reasons: natural characteristics, historical importance, unique watersports and activities, surrounding terrain, pop culture, etc. There can be various aspects that make people from all around the globe want to visit a particular beach. Maho Beach in the Caribbean island of Saint Martin has a defining feature and its USP is rather unexpected. Many people actually throng to this Beach to watch aircrafts. It is adjacent to the Princess Juliana International Airport, and plane spotters like to view arrivals and departures up close. The beginning of the runway is only around 160 feet from the fence on the beach, according to the BBC. Thus, the planes fly quite low over the sand during landing or taking off. This is one of the few spots in the world where the flight path can be observed so closely. Plane spotting here is so widespread that restaurants on the beach display airline timetables for tourists' reference. Recently, a video capturing the take-off of a plane at this airport took social media by storm. It has clocked over 3 million views on X so far and has got many people talking. The clip shows an Insel Air MD 80 aircraft at Princess Juliana International Airport. Beyond the fence of the runway, we can see the beach dotted with visitors. Most of them are watching or filming the plane on their devices. As the aircraft taxis and prepares for take-off, the sound of the engines and the force of the jet blast increase. This seems to directly impact those on the beach. Several people look away from the scene as sand starts to fly around. Some lose their footing and end up closer to the waves rather than the fence. By the end, hardly anyone is left standing on the sand - such is the force of the wind. Some visitors also ended up in the water. Watch the viral video below: Insane jet blast at St. Martin Airport: a tourists get blown away by MD80 aircraft taking off. — Out of Context Human Race (@NoContextHumans) May 11, 2025 Here's how X users reacted to the viral video: 120-130 dB within 100 meters, enough to cause immediate hearing damage — Bryan Johnson (@bryan_johnson) May 11, 2025 Just standing there inhaling exhuast.. people are something lol — Justin White (@NewFiie) May 11, 2025 I'd be more worried about a rogue pebble hitting my eye. — Dylan (@DylanWeaver) May 12, 2025 Why does the runway have no jet blast wall? Is it some kind of tourist attraction to get blown into the water? — Terri Zorn (@terri_zorn) May 11, 2025 The best part of this beach is facing the other direction and watching the planes fly over you to land… Almost looks like they're going to land right on your head lol — BullzOverBearz (@BullzOverBearz) May 12, 2025 I've stood there on that beach to feel the blast. It was pretty powerful. — Arguably Angela (@arguably_angela) May 12, 2025 Although watching planes here is an attractive prospect for many beachgoers, they are also told to heed warning signs. Visitors should not stand too close to the fence or hold on to it. Local authorities have warned that trying to brave the force of the jet blast from the beach is not safe, and instances in the past have proven to be quite dangerous for particular tourists.
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."
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Time of India
Shocking footage: Tourists blown away by airplane at popular beach airport
A normal day at the beach took an unexpected turn when a strong jet blast knocked down several tourists at one of the world's most famous plane-watching spots. A video from Princess Juliana International Airport in St Martin has gone viral, showing people losing their balance and getting thrown to the ground as a plane prepared to take off just metres away. The incident happened at Maho Beach, a popular tourist spot known for its close-up views of planes landing and taking off. While the thrill of watching aircraft so close draws crowds every year, the video highlights the real dangers involved– something many might underestimate until it's too late. Jet blast sends people flying into sand and sea The video, shared on X (formerly Twitter), captures the moment an Insel Air MD-80 aircraft powers up for takeoff. As the engines rev up, the jet blast hits a group of tourists standing near the airport fence. Some were waving, others filming the scene – but as the plane began to accelerate, things quickly got out of control. Watch the video here: Several people lost their balance and fell onto the sand, while a few were even pushed into the water. The powerful blast left many stunned. In the background, a voice can be heard saying, 'Oh my God. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Look at that,' as others screamed, caught off guard by the sudden rush of wind. Social media reacts strongly to viral clip The clip was shared online with the caption: 'Insane jet blast at St Martin Airport: a tourist gets blown away by MD80 aircraft taking off.' It quickly sparked conversation around safety, hearing damage, and the risks of standing too close to such powerful aircraft. Influencer Bryan Johnson commented on the possible health hazards, posting: '120-130 db within 100 meters, enough to cause immediate hearing damage.' Another user pointed out, 'People also forget that the decibel scale is logarithmic, not linear.' The video caught a lot of attention online, with many people sharing concerns about the possible long-term impact. One wrote, 'Yeah, not great for long-term hearing. The youths better listen to this.' Another added, 'My tinnitus got worse just watching this.' Worries about other dangers were also highlighted, with one tweet reading, 'Not to mention the hot exhaust and fast-moving sand.' One post brought attention to a past incident, saying, 'I think someone died once because they were too close to the jet blast. It's dangerous.' An iconic spot with serious warnings Maho Beach has been a popular tourist spot for years, famous for its close-up views of planes flying low right above the beach. But the recent viral video has once again highlighted the dangers of standing too close to the runway, especially during takeoff. While the spot is known for its exciting experiences and Instagram-worthy shots, the video serves as a reminder that getting too close to aircraft can be risky. As the clip continues to spread online, many are now urging visitors to be more cautious and not let curiosity override safety. Thumb image: X/@NoContextHumans
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.'
Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Jet blast sends tourists ‘flying' after standing too close to plane, Bryan Johnson reacts: ‘enough to cause immediate hearing damage'
A dramatic video has surfaced showing beachgoers standing directly behind a jet preparing for takeoff at the Maho Beach in St Maarten. The beach, located just outside Princess Juliana International Airport, is a major draw for thrill-seeking tourists due to its proximity to the runway, only about 50 metres from the sand. Planes often soar just 20 metres above beachgoers, creating a unique but dangerous attraction. In the viral footage, a large MD-80 series aircraft is seen positioning for takeoff as tourists gather near the airport fence. Some can be heard laughing and pulling out phones to record, while others rush forward to get a closer look. As the plane's engines start, a powerful blast of air tears through the crowd. Screaming onlookers are knocked to the ground, their belongings flung into the air and swept toward the sea. Some beachgoers desperately cling to fences or drop flat to the ground to avoid being thrown. 'Damn,' the person filming is heard saying as he quickly moves out of the jet's path. Moments later, he chuckles and adds, 'Look at all of those people's stuff,' as the camera pans to the sea, where scattered items are seen floating away. Watch here: 120-130 dB within 100 meters, enough to cause immediate hearing damage — Bryan Johnson (@bryan_johnson) May 11, 2025 While the video has gained massive attention online, many viewers criticised the beachgoers for taking such a risk, calling the act 'foolish,' 'dangerous,' and 'irresponsible'. Reacting to the video, Bryan Johnson, popularly known as the 'age-reversing' billionaire CEO, wrote, '120-130 dB within 100 meters, enough to cause immediate hearing damage.' Another user commented, 'What a great vacation. I got permanent hearing damage and massive amounts of toxic fumes power-blasted into my bloodstream!' Despite mishaps in the past, Maho Beach continues to attract tourists eager to capture dramatic photos and videos.
