Don't stand behind a jet engine- girl injured @ St. Maarten's Princess Juliana airport

[Scott37189]

Yep, when I landed there it was wild. It was like the pilot was literally standing on the brakes. I was coming out of my seat with the seat belt on. Had to brace myself on the seat back of the seat in front of me.

Houses and roads right next to it


It's wonderfully convenient, though. I try to fly out of there as opposed to ORD whenever possible.

[pGekko]

I never even noticed that at MDW.

ORD is diesel gas.

[det2orl]

Houses and roads right next to it


It's wonderfully convenient, though. I try to fly out of there as opposed to ORD whenever possible.

Oh there is no question of the convenience. Especially compared to O'Hare.

Why the hell would someone buy a house just outside the fence?

[GaryAngel]

Midway Reminds me of Orange County that one is crazy too.

[steve6884]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1421816.html

More videos at the link

St. Maarten Airport Considers Additional Security After Maho Beach Video Goes Viral

Days after two tourists were injured outside St. Maarten's airport, officials there say they are evaluating security measures to prevent future injuries to visitors.

The couple, whose ill-considered stunt has racked up more than 4 million YouTube views, weren't severely hurt, according to reports, but the worldwide attention the airport received after the clip went viral prompted island officials to act even though tourists have been lining up on Maho Beach to watch departures for years.

"We acknowledge the obvious attraction by visitors of planes landing so close to the beach," a Thursday press release from Princess Juliana International Airport states. "Nevertheless, no amount of excitement or thrill can justify putting one's life in danger."

A YouTube search for "St. Maarten Airport" returns more than 12,000 videos, evidence of the attraction of the beach, which is adjacent to the east end of the airport's runway. Many of the videos show tourists being blasted by jet exhaust and blown to the ground or even into the nearby ocean.

In this case, the airport's reaction seems to be driven by the sheer popularity of the recent video -- and the clear view of these two visitors to the tourism-dependent island being injured.

"It's not that YouTube hasn't had a number of videos but this is the first time it showed someone getting hurt, although not seriously hurt thank goodness," said Richard Kahn, a spokesman listed on the release, who stressed he did not speak on behalf of airport officials.

While the airport hasn't specifically said what additional measures it will implement or given a timeline for that implementation, the release states that "the airport is currently considering heightened security." The dangerous area is already conspicuously marked by fencing, warning signs and guard rails.

And tourists shooting video of departing planes.

[acman]

Landing at San Diego is fun, that's another one of those you swear your going to land on a house or a business.

[flemgoblue]

landing in st lucia, it seemed like we were going to land in the ocean.. runway comes out of nowhere

[GaryAngel]

Aloha International is like that too. You come in over the ocean, but there isn't a beach on the outer edge.

[WhoWhat]

Midway Reminds me of Orange County that one is crazy too.

I love Orange County - almost always fly in there. LAX is poop and farts.

[General283]

I love Orange County - almost always fly in there. LAX is poop and farts.

At least poop and farts are funny. LAX is just a mess...which poop and farts often are too

[Mororvia]

Before this thread, I used to be impressed with landings at Washington National: