A popular plane-spotting location in Greece has turned into the scene of two serious injuries in just three days.
A 52-year-old Italian tourist was seriously injured on Monday, August 10, after being knocked to the ground by the powerful blast from a passenger jet taking off from Skiathos International Airport.
The woman was standing near the famous plane-spotting beach beside the airport’s runway when the aircraft accelerated for takeoff. The force of the engine blast reportedly knocked her over, causing her to hit her head on the ground.
She was rushed to the Skiathos Emergency Clinic, where doctors performed a CT scan before she was airlifted to Volos General Hospital for further treatment. Her current condition has not been publicly confirmed.
But the incident was not an isolated case.
Just three days later, another Italian woman in her early 50s was reportedly knocked down by the blast of an aircraft taking off from the same airport. She suffered a severe arm fracture and was taken to a local health facility for treatment.
Skiathos is famous among aviation enthusiasts because Xanemos Beach sits remarkably close to the airport’s runway, offering tourists an unusually close view of aircraft taking off.
But that proximity comes with a serious danger: jet engines produce enormous amounts of thrust, and the resulting blast can knock people off their feet and cause severe injuries.
Local authorities are reportedly investigating the incidents.
The spectacular view may be tempting, but these incidents are a powerful reminder that aircraft engine blast is not something to underestimate.
