Charlie Darwin Hits The Tropics

[Diego in Seattle]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/tourist-kill ... 11311.html

Tourist killed by jet blast at notorious Caribbean airport
[The Telegraph]
Gavin Haines
The TelegraphJuly 13, 2017

A jet, not the one involved in the incident, lands at Princess Juliana Airport - GETTY

A tourist has died at one of the world’s most dangerous airports.

The woman – a 57-year-old New Zealander – was reportedly watching a plane take off from the notorious Princess Juliana Airport in St Maarten when she was knocked over by the thrust from one of its engines.

She is understood to have died in hospital where she was being treated for head injuries.
Tourists experience the blast of an aircraft on a nearby beach - Credit: GETTY
View photos
Tourists experience the blast of an aircraft on a nearby beach Credit: GETTY

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.

The worlds scariest airport landings:

“I met with the family of the deceased this evening and 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,” he said.

Local police, meanwhile, issued a fresh warning to tourists who were thinking of visiting the airport.

“Many tourists come to the island to experience the thrills of the landing of approaching aircrafts flying low above their heads and the holding on to the airport fence and standing in the jet blast of large aircraft taking off,” police told the BBC.

“Doing this is, however, extremely dangerous.”

In 2012, a young woman was seriously injured after being sent flying by the blast of an aircraft. Footage of the incident shows the woman losing her grip on a fence as the aircraft fires up its engines.

[Goober McTuber]

Have been there 7 times in the last 8 years. Have never felt any inclination to go hang on the fence. There's a nice little beach bar off to the side which is a fine spot for watching the planes as well as the idiot tourists.

[Moving Sale]

57 yo women aren't killed by Darwin.

[Goober McTuber]

They are when they make stupid choices.

[Moving Sale]

Yes I get it. You are too dumb to understand Darwin.

[Goober McTuber]

Yes I get it. You are too dumb to understand Darwin.

Survival of the fittest. That could easily exclude a 57-year-old woman. And all midgets.

[Moving Sale]

Yes I get it. You are too dumb to understand Darwin.

Survival of the fittest. That could easily exclude a 57-year-old woman. And all midgets.

That is Spencer you cum burping fuckseat. And why the obsession with my body? You are J are fucking creepy.

[Moving Sale]

Maybe she could find a lawyer to help her sue the airlines. He could take her retainer to buy medicinal weed.

Who buys weed? :grin: :doh:
You are one stupid fuck.

[Goober McTuber]

And why the obsession with my body? You are J are fucking creepy.

Who said I was talking about you? Nice white flag.

[Moving Sale]

How droll.

[Left Seater]

Have been there 7 times in the last 8 years. Have never felt any inclination to go hang on the fence. There's a nice little beach bar off to the side which is a fine spot for watching the planes as well as the idiot tourists.

Maho isn't a nude beach. Surprised you would hang out there. :grin:

Anywho, I too have spent time there watching the planes come and go. I have stood along the fence but never directly behind the engines. 5 feet left or right makes a huge difference. The cooler experience is to stand on the beach as the KLM 747 passes overhead on landing. The island will make a bit of noise for a few weeks and then they will forget about this accident. Far too big of a tourist draw to make substantial changes.

[Mikey]

Maybe it was a Blue Whale thing.

[Goober McTuber]

How droll.

Yeah. That's how I droll.

[Mikey]

You mean drool, right?

[Goober McTuber]

You mean drool, right?

No, I would never drool on Moving Sale. Too small a target.