Rise of dangerous ‘jet blast’ trend: Thrill-seeking tourists who stand under ‘intense’ stream of air from plane’s engines warned they risk ‘serious injury’

DAILYMAIL.COM • 1h ago

By ERIN DEBORAH WAKS, TRAVEL WRITER 16:24 09 Oct 2026, updated 16:28 09 Oct 2026

Tourists seeking aviation thrills are risking potentially serious injury by trying to take photographs and video footage of planes just as they’re about to land.

Two holidaymakers were injured in August after watching planes taking off at Skiathos International Airport Alexandros Papadiamantis, which famously has one of the shortest runways in Europe.

One woman suffered a head injury and the other tourist an arm fracture. And last summer a tourist on the island was sent flying into the sea after being hit by a powerful jet blast from an easyJet plane.

Thodoris Tzoumas, the mayor of Skiathos, has defended tourists’ right to take such photos on public land, telling The Telegraph: ‘We don’t consider it a danger, but rather a phenomenon.

‘Few airports allow you to witness departures and landings so closely.’

The official explained that there are protocols in place and road markings to designate where to stand – so anyone exposed to danger is doing so at their own risk.

‘Anyone who [ignores the signs] bears responsibility for exposing themselves to danger,’ he added.

The trend for getting as close as possible to aircraft at airports around the world has grown in recent years, with experts warning tourists are risking serious injury from the adrenaline-seeking pursuit.

Dubbed one of the ‘scariest’ runways in the world due to its proximity to the sea, the airport on the Caribbean island of St Maarten has also become a hotspot for jet blast enthusiasts.

Last year, a group of eager tourists in the Caribbean were blown into the sea after they attempted to capture the perfect shot behind a plane.

So, what is a jet blast? The website of private jet firm Globe Air explains: ‘Jet blast refers to the intense stream of air produced at high speed from the back of a jet engine, particularly noticeable when an aircraft is preparing for takeoff or at high power settings.

‘This powerful thrust is essential for the propulsion of jet aircraft but can pose significant hazards in the vicinity of runways and airport aprons.

‘While essential for achieving flight, jet blast poses notable hazards, particularly in airport environments where aircraft operate at high power settings.’

Footage shared on social media of jet blasting tourists shows just how dangerous getting caught in the stream of a descending aircraft can be.

One clip, shared by @airlines360 on TikTok, showed ‘shocked tourists stumbling’, while another posted by @thinkplanes showed clothing flapping around in the wind and tourists ducking to avoid being blown over by the blast.

What are the safety risks? The company explains: ‘Jet blast poses substantial safety risks to personnel, vehicles, and equipment in its path. The high-velocity airflow generated by jet engines can cause significant damage and even threaten individuals and structures within its vicinity.’

To mitigate the risk, there must be designated safety zones or blast barriers in place, as well as designated pathways for vehicle traffic, restricted access zones, and clear communication protocols between air traffic control and ground personnel.

In spite of the mayor’s protestations that witnessing jet blasts isn’t dangerous, Skiathoslandings.com, which provides information for keen aviation enthusiasts, has a clear warning: ‘First of all we like to make clear the skiathoslandings.com is not a website suggesting people to stand behind engines jet blast during take-off.

‘Actually we advise the visitors at Skiathos to stay clear/away from jet blast and not stand behind airplanes during take-off. This is not the spectacular part of Skiathos airport scene.’

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