Landing jets
Over the beach.
Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Andres Alvarado — CC BY-SA 2.0 · alljengi from Edinburgh — CC BY-SA 2.0
Maho Beach is a sandy beach on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, about 8 km in a straight line west of the capital, Philipsburg. It is world-famous for lying right at the end of the runway of Princess Juliana International Airport. The beach sits directly under the landing path, so arriving aircraft pass over visitors' heads less than 30 m up before touching down at the water's edge. It is one of the few places in the world where planes can be seen this close, making it a magnet for plane spotters from around the globe. Bars and restaurants on the beach post boards with arrival and departure times, and crowds gather on the sand to take photos as the big jets come in. The sand is white and the water clear blue, though the waves can be strong. The beach is public and free. Never stand behind aircraft as they take off: the jet blast is extremely powerful, can throw people into the sea and cause serious injuries, so heed the warning signs on the beach.
Over the beach.
Beside the runway.
Over the sea.
Maho, Sint Maarten
No, the jet blast on take-off is very dangerous.
Check the timetable boards in the beach bars.
