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Two tourists have been injured while plane-spotting at Skiathos International Airport Alexandros Papadiamantis (JSI) this month, with both individuals being blown over by the powerful jet blast as aircraft prepare to take off. Skiathos is a popular airport for plane-spotting and is known as the ‘European St. Maarten’ due to the airport’s proximity to the road and beach, which allows onlookers to experience the planes arrive and depart at close range.
Both tourists have been blown over by the powerful jet blasts, with the first incident leading to a head injury, while the other suffered a serious arm fracture. While the airlines and aircraft involved remain unclear, this hasn’t stopped other onlookers from lining up along the airport perimeter to experience the force of the departing aircraft.
The First Incident Resulted In An Italian National Being Airlifted To Hospital
According to media reports, two tourists on separate occasions have become injured while plane spotting at the popular Greek airport on the island of Skiathos. The first incident occurred on Monday, August 10, when an Italian tourist was injured by the powerful jet blast. The Italian national was knocked off her feet, causing a fall and a knock to the head on a concrete surface.
This resulted in the individual being attended to by medical responders and being rushed to the local medical center. Doctors performed a CT scan and revealed that she was experiencing a brain bleed, paired with other serious head trauma. This resulted in the female being airlifted to Volos General Hospital on the Greek mainland for specialist care.
Simple Flying reached out to the airport for comment on the incidents; however, an airport spokesperson could not immediately be reached.
Another Fall Resulted In A Fractured Arm
Just days after the first incident, another Italian national was knocked over while plane spotting. The female tourist on Thursday, August 13, lost her footing and fell to the ground, resulting in a serious arm fracture. In a report by AirLive, both incidents are under investigation by local authorities, and the accident highlights ‘persistent safety hazards’ at this popular location.
Skiathos Alexandros Papadiamantis Airport (JSI) is the primary airport for the island of Skiathos, Greece, and is capable of accommodating aircraft up to the Boeing 757-200. Due to the terrain of the island, the airport was created by reclaiming land from the sea and joined the two islands of Skiathos and Lazareta (a former leper colony).
The airport’s short runway and proximity to the public road of Paraliakos make it a popular destination for plane spotters, where onlookers can legally experience landing and departing aircraft at close range. Airport characteristics below:
Airport Official Name | Skiathos International Airport “Alexandros Papadiamantis” |
|---|---|
IATA Code | JSI |
ICAO Code | LGSK |
Operator | Fraport AG/Copelouzos Group joint venture |
Runways | 01/19 (5,341 ft / 1,628 m) |
The Dangers Of Plane Spotting At Skiathos Airport
As already mentioned, the airport’s proximity to a public road and relatively short runway makes the airport a magnet for planespotters looking to experience the force of an arriving or departing jet up close. This comes with a number of risks, such as jet blast. Departing jets produce a high-velocity exhaust stream which can result in individuals being blown over and onto the ground.
There are a number of hazard signs and warning barriers that have been installed near the perimeter which caution aviation enthusiasts to stay out of the jet blast zone; however, thrill-seekers continue to crowd the area and try to get as close as legally possible to capture photographs or videos of the experience.
The recurring incidents highlight the ongoing safety hazards at this Greek airport. Operations at the airport are highly seasonal, with around 17 operators flying to the airport only in the popular Northern Hemisphere summer months to 54 destinations across Europe, with the largest seasonal operators being Jet2 (ten destinations), Ryanair (nine), plus easyJet and TUI Airways (both six). There remain just two year-round operators, Olympic Air and Sky Express, with domestic flights to the country’s main airport, Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH).
