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Tourist dies from jet blast at infamous St Maarten Airport
A New Zealand tourist has died after being hit by a jet blast from a departing aircraft at a Caribbean beach.
It happened by the airport fence of the Princess Juliana International Airport in St Maarten, near a popular spot to watch scary landings of low-flying jets just metres above Maho Beach.
The 57-year-old Kiwi tourist and several other people were knocked over by the force of the jet blast and it is thought she hit her head on a concrete pavement.
She died a short time later.
A police report said the woman was ‘knocked off her feet by a plane’s powerful wake.’
There are visible signs by the fence warning of standing too close, while people have been knocked over by the force of jet blasts before, this is thought to be the first ever fatality.
"At this time I only wish to express my deepest sympathy to the family and loved ones while we continue to investigate what exactly transpired," St Maarten Tourism Authority director Rolando Brison said.
"I met with the family of the deceased this evening and while they recognized 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.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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