An elderly man was hurled to the ground by the powerful blast of a jet on the picturesque Greek island of Skiathos on Sunday. The 79-year-old suffered minor injuries.
The man, who was standing outside of the gate surrounding the Skiathos ”Alexandros Papadiamantis” International Airport, was hit with the jet blast of a plane on the airport runway.
The force of the turbines threw him to the ground resulting in scrapes and bruises. He was transported to the island’s local health center for treatment.
This is not surprising to many who are familiar with the island. Skiathos island’s airport is well known for its proximity to the beach and nearby yachting docks, where thousands of people enjoy relaxing summer moments.
Man at Skiathos Airport suffered minor injuries
The fact that planes make low landings at the particular airport is well known, so many tourists gather around the airport to get a picture or video of the dramatic landings.
This is despite many warnings, signs, and alerts from the airport for spectators to keep a safe distance from the runway and planes that are landing at the site.
Skiathos airport’s short runway and its close proximity to an adjacent public road have made it an extremely popular destination for people known as “planespotters.”
The island airport is frequently compared to Princess Juliana International Airport on the island of Saint Maarten in the Caribbean Sea for its runways which are just feet away from the sea and are particularly challenging to pilots.
Since both airports offer the public an ability to legally experience landing approaches and takeoffs at very close range, they are a popular destination for those who love aviation and seek the thrill of getting up close and personal with large aircraft.
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