ehind the fence on take-offs. The wind created by the jet engines can easily knock you over and throw you into the water. I have seen it happen many times. Even have seen people walking with their luggage across the beach and having the luggage ripped from their hands and thrown out into the sea. The large 747's, with their twin-jet engines on each wing, produce so much turbulence and noise that if you stand in their path you will get a free sand blasting. And, it hurts!! Well, I just read on the St. Maarten Island Time website that two tourists were injured this week while trying to hold onto the fence while a Jet Blue aircraft was throttling up to depart the island. A male tourist suffered a broken leg while a female tourist suffered a deep cut on her head when she was blown from the fence and hit a cement wall that separates the narrow roadway from the beach. Both were taken to the St. Maarten Medical Center for treatment. Evidently the signs mean nothing to most people. I must admit I have often been tempted to try fence surfin' as it is called, but realize that if it can tear young, strong bodies from the fence, what would it do to me. Really don't want to ruin my vacation by spending it in the medical center. I have included a few YouTube videos showing a plane landing, one taking off from the far end on the runway and lifting off just in time before it hits the fence, and the video of the two people who were injured when the Jet Blue took off from the end of the runway directly behind the beach. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The "Surfin' The Fence: PJIA Thrill Seekers" Story
It was an ordinary day. For years Carol and I have travelled to St. Maarten for vacation and have landed at the Princess Juliana International Airport on the south-west side of the island. PJIA has one of the shortest runways in the world and the plane has to land as soon as it passes over Maho Bay beach. People gather daily at the beach to watch the planes land and take off. I know, because I have been there many times myself. It is a truly remarkable experience and one I never miss when on the island. On the fence at the start of the runway are signs warning you of the danger involved with standing behind the fence on take-offs. The wind created by the jet engines can easily knock you over and throw you into the water. I have seen it happen many times. Even have seen people walking with their luggage across the beach and having the luggage ripped from their hands and thrown out into the sea. The large 747's, with their twin-jet engines on each wing, produce so much turbulence and noise that if you stand in their path you will get a free sand blasting. And, it hurts!! Well, I just read on the St. Maarten Island Time website that two tourists were injured this week while trying to hold onto the fence while a Jet Blue aircraft was throttling up to depart the island. A male tourist suffered a broken leg while a female tourist suffered a deep cut on her head when she was blown from the fence and hit a cement wall that separates the narrow roadway from the beach. Both were taken to the St. Maarten Medical Center for treatment. Evidently the signs mean nothing to most people. I must admit I have often been tempted to try fence surfin' as it is called, but realize that if it can tear young, strong bodies from the fence, what would it do to me. Really don't want to ruin my vacation by spending it in the medical center. I have included a few YouTube videos showing a plane landing, one taking off from the far end on the runway and lifting off just in time before it hits the fence, and the video of the two people who were injured when the Jet Blue took off from the end of the runway directly behind the beach. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
ehind the fence on take-offs. The wind created by the jet engines can easily knock you over and throw you into the water. I have seen it happen many times. Even have seen people walking with their luggage across the beach and having the luggage ripped from their hands and thrown out into the sea. The large 747's, with their twin-jet engines on each wing, produce so much turbulence and noise that if you stand in their path you will get a free sand blasting. And, it hurts!! Well, I just read on the St. Maarten Island Time website that two tourists were injured this week while trying to hold onto the fence while a Jet Blue aircraft was throttling up to depart the island. A male tourist suffered a broken leg while a female tourist suffered a deep cut on her head when she was blown from the fence and hit a cement wall that separates the narrow roadway from the beach. Both were taken to the St. Maarten Medical Center for treatment. Evidently the signs mean nothing to most people. I must admit I have often been tempted to try fence surfin' as it is called, but realize that if it can tear young, strong bodies from the fence, what would it do to me. Really don't want to ruin my vacation by spending it in the medical center. I have included a few YouTube videos showing a plane landing, one taking off from the far end on the runway and lifting off just in time before it hits the fence, and the video of the two people who were injured when the Jet Blue took off from the end of the runway directly behind the beach. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 
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This is crazy, Perhaps is she stayed a while longer and held on she might not have ended up in the predicament. But on the other hand there is a Warning sign. Its sad though to see someone get tossed about and hurt in such a manner.
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