Tourist at popular beach killed by forceful blast from nearby jet
Richie Diesterheft | Flickr
FOX NEWS - A 57-year-old woman vacationing in the Caribbean island of Saint Martin was killed after a blast from a nearby jet knocked her to the ground.
The incident occurred on Wednesday at Maho Beach — a popular tourist destination in Sint Maarten, the Dutch side of the island — which is famous for its proximity to the Princess Juliana International Airport. Officials say the woman had been holding onto a fence that separates the beach from the airport when winds generated by the jet’s engines blasted her back.
She died a short time later at a local hospital, reports the BBC.
Maho Beach has long been a popular spot for tourists and thrill-seekers, largely due to the low-flying planes that fly overhead on their way into Princess Juliana International Airport.
“This is a must-do for any aviation enthusiasts, travel enthusiasts, and just anybody who wants to take a few minutes out of their day to see aviation,” travel blogger Jamie Larounis told Fox News earlier this year. "They stop the traffic, and people are getting blown into the water, getting sand blown into their faces as these huge jets take off."
Brave tourists have also taken to holding onto the fence that separates the runway from the roadway next to the beach, despite a warning sign advising against getting too close.