Ah well Darwin strikes at St Maarten airport beach

[malaise]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/tourist-killed-jet-blast-notorious-105711311.html
<snip>
Sandwiched between a busy beach on one side and a mountain on the other, the Caribbean airport is renowned as one of the world’s most dangerous spots to go plane watching. Big jets swoop in low over the beach to touch down on the runway, a spectacle that attracts many thrill-seeking tourists.

Though signs warn of the dangers posed by air blasts, many tourists still cling onto the fence separating the beach from the runway to feel the force of the thrust.

The as-yet-unnamed tourist, who was reportedly accompanied by members of her family, is understood to have been holding onto the fence before being knocked over.

Rolando Brison, St Maarten’s director of tourism, told the New Zealand Herald that he had spoken to the family of the dead woman.

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great pic at link

[msongs]

1. hundreds of youtube videos show others doing the same sort of thing... nt

[BannonsLiver]

2. I've been to this beach multiple times

And I must confess it's a lot of fun but I never understood the desire to get right up on th fence like that. First off, the really cool thing is the landing part. But the takeoffs are fun too -- if you stand clear of the jet blast. The one time I did not do that I stood well away on the beach itself and still found myself picking sand out of my teeth. There is lots of warning signage that many seem to ignore. I saw a woman standing against the fence literally get blown over onto the pavement resulting in what looked like a broken nose. The last time I was there police seemed to be more aggressive in shooing people away but they can't be there all the time. Complicating things is the bar that's literally right there. Alcohol is liquid courage to some.

[malaise]

3. Yep been there several times

but I've never wanted to get that close - maybe the contents of the bar don't tempt me.

[BannonsLiver]

4. I'm wondering if this will be the end

The last time I was there the guy that was driving us around said there have been rumblings of closing the beach for fear of something like this happening. Not sure how that work since there's a road right there but I'm glad I got to see it in person.

[malaise]

5. I doubt it

It's part of their tourist package - for the thrill seekers