A tragedy waiting to happen is what some called the regrettable incident in which a visitor died after she fell on her head while hanging on to the airport fence to experience St. Maarten’s world-famous jet blast. There have indeed been a number of accidents at the popular landing and take-off viewing area along Maho Beach, ranging from cars pushed onto the beach by the thrust and rolling into the sea without anybody getting hurt to mishaps similar to the one on Wednesday in which persons were seriously injured.
It must be said, measures to improve safety have been taken over the years, such as placing more explicit hazard signs, erecting a second fence farther from the runway, prohibiting parking on that stretch of road and placing a divider to prevent such, etc. However, the reality is that the only vehicular access to Beacon Hill cannot be closed off and the tarmac has already undergone a maximum expansion in the opposite direction of Simpson Bay Lagoon, involving considerable filling-in of land and rerouting Airport Boulevard.
The only remaining alternative would be to do the same at the other end, which basically means destroying the natural beach in this resort area. It’s also true that the unique experience of witnessing planes in action up so close has become one of the island’s biggest informal tourist attractions.
Police pass by regularly to move thrill-seekers away from the danger spot, but they return as soon as the coast is clear. There are even tours with cruise passengers to the location and although gathering right behind the huge and obviously powerful aircraft engines is actively discouraged, many still do it.
If, for example, a bridge is used for bungee jumping and someone dies, does that mean this must be forbidden? And when they still do it, should the bridge be closed?
With all due respect and sympathy for the victim’s family, ultimately it comes down to own responsibility and common sense. Hopefully, her death will not have been in vain, but will help people realise that watching from a secure distance is one thing, but purposely trying to get one’s feet knocked out from under quite another.
