Tourist killed by jet blast on Caribbean beach

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – A tourist was killed after being blown into a wall by the jet blast from an airplane taking off from a Caribbean airport.

The 57-year-old woman was standing on the beach in Philipsburg, St. Maarten which is just feet away from the runway at Princess Juliana International Airport.

Recommended Videos



Despite warning signs, the beach has become a popular attraction with tourists as planes fly incredibly low overhead as they land at the nearby airport.

The Independent reports the woman from New Zealand was watching a 737 take off when she was knocked down by the blast from the fence she was clinging to, and flung into a wall.

PHOTOS: Look out below! Scenes from the world's craziest beach

The woman sustained head injuries and later died at the hospital.

Video from the scene shows someone attempting to resuscitate the woman with CPR.

The woman is believed to be the first person to die at the beach from injuries suffered by airplane blast, although an incident in 2012 was caught on video showing a similar occurrence in which the woman survived.