# Is this photo for real? (Passenger plane coming in to land) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 7, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-photo-for-real-passenger-plane-coming-in-to-land/733823 "2015-10-07T15:56:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-photo-for-real-passenger-plane-coming-in-to-land/733823/81 "2015-10-12T02:58:45Z")
I have nothing to contribute, except that when I saw the title of the thread, I guessed it would be about the beach at St Maarten šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-photo-for-real-passenger-plane-coming-in-to-land/733823/82 "2017-07-13T14:52:43Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > ISTM all theyā€™d need is a [jet blast deflector](http://www.bdi.aero/assets/img/featured/home/01393525303_image12.jpeg) and that would put a stop to it. I bet they could even get a plexiglass one so people could still stand back there and see the planes. > > I can only assume that, barring a fatality or horrible accident, theyā€™ll just keep putting up unenforced signs since standing in the jet blast is at least one of the reasons why people come there. _ **BUMP** _ [I guess now weā€™ll see.](http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article161128828.html) > [@](#): > > Police spokesman Ricardo Henson says the 57-year-old woman was knocked into a wall as she tried to cling to a fence to feel the blast. He says she was taken to the hospital late Wednesday and died. Her name hasnā€™t been released. ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-photo-for-real-passenger-plane-coming-in-to-land/733823/83 "2017-07-13T15:44:03Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > _ **BUMP** _ > > [I guess now weā€™ll see.](http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article161128828.html) Iā€™d say nature balanced things out, nothing to worry about. I wish i could remember the one crazy island airport, the approach glide slope is like literally skimming down the mountain slope to the runway. Videos of it look crazy. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-photo-for-real-passenger-plane-coming-in-to-land/733823/84 "2017-07-13T16:23:20Z")
Mildly surprised that itā€™s the first documented fatality. OTOH who the heck stands in jet blast for fun. > [@Weisshund](#): > > I wish i could remember the one crazy island airport, the approach glide slope is like literally skimming down the mountain slope to the runway. > > Videos of it look crazy. St. Barthelemy [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/61OaDBYzEIc/maxresdefault.jpg "St Barth Amazing Plane landing and Takeoff footage at Gustaf III Airport") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61OaDBYzEIc) But for contrast, look up Saba airport. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XiVM0w9YquQ/maxresdefault.jpg "āœˆ Shortest runway in the world āœ”") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiVM0w9YquQ) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-photo-for-real-passenger-plane-coming-in-to-land/733823/85 "2017-07-13T16:25:42Z")
> [@Weisshund](#): > > Iā€™d say nature balanced things out, nothing to worry about. > > I wish i could remember the one crazy island airport, the approach glide slope is like literally skimming down the mountain slope to the runway. > Videos of it look crazy. Youā€™re probably talking about St. Barthelemy; link in post #63. ETA: Ninjaā€™d. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-photo-for-real-passenger-plane-coming-in-to-land/733823/86 "2017-07-13T16:53:26Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > _ **BUMP** _ > > [I guess now weā€™ll see.](http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article161128828.html) Wow. Iā€™ve clung to that fence, and Iā€™ve been tossed down in the sand. I canā€™t picture the wall she hit into, though. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-photo-for-real-passenger-plane-coming-in-to-land/733823/87 "2017-07-13T16:58:50Z")
Ahā€¦ itā€™s a zombie thread. NM. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-photo-for-real-passenger-plane-coming-in-to-land/733823/88 "2017-07-13T17:03:40Z")
Gibraltar also has a scary airport. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-photo-for-real-passenger-plane-coming-in-to-land/733823/89 "2017-07-13T17:08:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Wow. Iā€™ve clung to that fence, and Iā€™ve been tossed down in the sand. I canā€™t picture the wall she hit into, though. [Hereā€™s an incident that happened some years ago;](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV21f1MZ5iU) she lets go of the fence, tumbles and at 0:33 hits her head on a concrete curb maybe a foot high. I guess you could call it a ā€œwall.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-photo-for-real-passenger-plane-coming-in-to-land/733823/90 "2017-07-13T17:16:39Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Mildly surprised that itā€™s the first documented fatality. OTOH who the heck stands in jet blast for fun. Heh, guess you have to be there to get it. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-photo-for-real-passenger-plane-coming-in-to-land/733823/91 "2017-07-13T19:25:58Z")
Delete . ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-photo-for-real-passenger-plane-coming-in-to-land/733823/92 "2017-07-14T01:10:46Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Youā€™re probably talking about St. Barthelemy; link in post #63. > > ETA: Ninjaā€™d. Or perhaps Tegucigalpa, Honduras. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-photo-for-real-passenger-plane-coming-in-to-land/733823/93 "2017-07-14T03:26:37Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > Gibraltar also has a scary airport. Four-lane highway (plus bike and pedestrian lanes) intersecting the runway. [Lots of pictures here.](http://www.amusingplanet.com/2011/11/gibraltar-airport-worlds-only-airport.html) [Runway with railroad crossing.](http://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/08/gisborne-airport-runway-with-railway.html) ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-photo-for-real-passenger-plane-coming-in-to-land/733823/94 "2017-07-14T05:08:13Z")
Been there, done that in 1991. I always wondered if the 747 pilots had a radar altimeter or were just that good at judging their height above the runway. On the days I was there, KLM put on the best show. The pilots that used all the runway for take off and held the breaks until a lot of throttle was up could make the sand hurt like crazy. More fun right after a rain shower had cooled the air a bit and the wet sand did not blow as much. Great fun. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-photo-for-real-passenger-plane-coming-in-to-land/733823.md?page=4)