This is the jaw-dropping moment a group of eager tourists in the Caribbean were blown into the sea by a jet blast after they attempted to capture the perfect shot behind a plane.
Dubbed one of the ‘scariest’ runways in the world due to its proximity to the sea, the airport in the Caribbean island of St Marteen is a hotspot for aviation enthusiasts ready to witness dramatically low landings and take offs.
Shocking footage shared on social network Reddit yesterday showed scores of beach-going tourists waiting behind a fence that separates Juliana International Airport from Maho beach.
In the clip, holidaymakers can be seen whipping out their phones and tablets as they enthusiastically wait for the plane to take off, when suddenly a jet blast sends spectators stumbling backwards, with some even being pushed into the sea.
Others are seen struggling to stay on their feet as forceful wind continues to blow in their direction.
The person filming the video appears to be knocked over by the blast, but quickly manages to get back up.
The camera then pans out to show the sea, capturing those who ended up in the water.
Maho Beach is one of the world’s best plane-spotting locations and crowds gather regularly to witness the low-flying aircraft.
Many of the surrounding bars and restaurants on the beach display airline departure and arrival timetables.
Signs warn visitors that jet blast from arriving and departing planes can cause serious injury or even death.
However, thrill-seekers have previously been known to hold onto the chain-link fence when a jet is preparing for take-off so they are blasted by the engines and lifted off the ground.
Princess Juliana airport is the second-busiest airport in the eastern Caribbean region.
With the packed beach situated just outside the airport’s boundary, it offers a challenge to pilots who are behind the controls of aircraft.
The recent incident at Maho beach comes months after plane-spotters on the Greek island of Skiathos were also knocked over by a jet blast near Alexandros Papadiamantis Airport in a clip that went viral on TikTok.
Footage showed people struggling against the blast of air as several onlookers lost their balance.