Maho Beach

Due to the unique proximity of low-flying airliners arriving and departing from Princess Juliana International Airport, the location is popular with plane spotters.

There is a danger of people standing on the beach being blown into solid objects or the water because of the jet blast from aircraft taking off from runway 10.

On October 16, 2008, the Maho area of St. Maarten was badly damaged by Hurricane Omar, which destroyed the Sunset Bar and Grill as well as Bamboo Bernies and Bliss.

Hurricane Omar reduced the beach to boulders and damaged the nearby Royal Islander Club La Plage, which re-opened February 14, 2009.

The woman was holding on to a fence at the end of the runway when winds from the engines of the passenger plane blew her away, causing her head to smash into concrete.

A group of tourists being blown by jet blast from an aircraft on the runway threshold
People on the beach watch an airliner take off.
Maho Beach and Princess Juliana International Airport after Hurricane Irma damaged the area in 2017; much of the sand making up the beach was blown towards the airport and through the fence, settling before the threshold of the runway.
Sign on the beach warning people of the dangers.