re: St. Maarten airport beach / 747 landing

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St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport lived up to its illustrious reputation Tuesday, when a KLM aircraft damaged at least 17 vehicles parked alongside the beachside runway. KLM flight 785 had come in from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, and was fully booked, according to a spokesman for the airline.


One of the vehicles that got damaged during touchdown of a 747 jet in St. Maarten (thedailyherald.com)
One of the vehicles that got damaged during touchdown of a 747 jet in St. Maarten (thedailyherald.com)

The pressure coming from the engines of the KLM Boeing 747 caused a jet blast that blew out windshields and windows of the parked vehicles. Landings are usually safe, but according to the island’s The Daily Herald newspaper, after touchdown the KLM aircraft made a left turn at the eastern end of the runway, instead of a right turn.

Damaged vehicles are believed to belong to patrons of a nearby hotel and beach bar.

When asked about the cause of the incident, the spokesman said, “There is an investigation and until the results are published I can’t say anything about it.” Local airport authorities are in charge of the investigation, he said.

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