A German tourist was injured on Monday morning at Skiathos airport after being knocked over by the powerful jet blast of an aircraft during takeoff.
According to public broadcaster ERT, the incident occurred on a road near the airport where spectators frequently gather to watch planes take off and land at close range.
The two young German women were standing directly in the path of the jet blast when the aircraft began accelerating for takeoff. One of them was violently thrown to the ground by the force.
The injured tourist was transported to a nearby medical center, where she was found to have sustained only minor injuries.
A recent report ranks the Alexandros Papadiamantis Airport on Skiathos as one of the worst airports in the world in terms of location.
The report contains airports located in areas that are actually not appropriate, are too small, or have very narrow or short runways. Some of the airports are also located on the edge of a cliff or just a few meters away from the beach. Others are right next to city streets.
Tourists and plane spotters gather at Skiathos airport
The Skiathos airport is famous among pilots for its low landings. It has one short and narrow runway close to homes and is hemmed in by the sea, a lagoon, and a hill. All these make it difficult for pilots to navigate, but its location makes for spectacular takeoffs and landings.
Despite warning signs around the airport perimeter, many tourists continue to approach the fence during takeoffs, disregarding the risks posed by engine thrust.
Skiathos airport has the shortest runway in Europe, as it is a mere 1,628 meters long (5,341 ft). Oftentimes, passengers depart and plane spotters congregate behind the runway. Minor incidents are frequent.
In 2022, a tourist sustained serious injuries after being hit by the jet wash of a plane taking off. The 61-year-old woman was standing on a ledge trying to take photos of the plane taking off when a strong gust from the plane’s engines hit her and threw her off her perch.
The incident was captured on video by a local news site.
In addition, the runway was built on land reclaimed from the sea, which results in the impressive feeling that the planes practically skim the water during takeoff and landing. Much like the airport on the island of Saint Martin, planes heading to Skiathos fly over populated areas at a minimum altitude.
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