By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Travel Radar - Aviation NewsTravel Radar - Aviation News
  • Breaking News
  • Aviation
    • Aircraft
    • Airlines
    • Airshow & Events
    • Careers
    • Manufacturing
  • Travel
    • Airports
    • Points & Loyalty
    • Technology
    • Trip Reviews
  • Newsletters
Reading: Sint Maarten: Home of the airport adrenaline sport
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Font ResizerAa
Travel Radar - Aviation NewsTravel Radar - Aviation News
  • Breaking News
  • Aviation
    • Aircraft
    • Airlines
    • Airshow & Events
    • Careers
    • Manufacturing
  • Travel
    • Airports
    • Points & Loyalty
    • Technology
    • Trip Reviews
  • Newsletters
Signin Sign In
Follow US
Copyright © Travel Radar Media Ltd. 2025 | All Rights Reserved
Travel Radar - Aviation News > News > Sint Maarten: Home of the airport adrenaline sport

Sint Maarten: Home of the airport adrenaline sport

Josh McMinn
Last updated: 11 July 2022 20:23
By Josh McMinn
5 Min Read
Share
SHARE

Sint Maarten is one of the only places in the world where you can feel the full force of a jet engine against your face. With its runway just meters from a tourist beach, Princess Juliana Airport has become the home of a unique adrenaline sport known locally as “riding the fence”.

Summary
Princess Juliana AirportRiding the FenceDeath at Maho BeachSecond Fence

Princess Juliana Airport

Located on the Dutch side of St. Martin Island, Princess Juliana Airport serves as the main hub for the small Caribbean territory. With one active runway, and a single terminal equipped with four jet bridges, the airport is humble in size, however, it regularly receives large aircraft such as Boeing 747 or Airbus A340.

A low approach into Princess Juliana Airport
A low approach into Princess Juliana Airport | Benny Zheng

What makes Princess Juliana so special is the opportunity to see these aircraft fly less than 100ft above your head. With a short runway of only 2,180m, planes are forced to approach at a low altitude, passing close to a tourist beach that backs onto the airport. It’s been described as the world’s “best” and “scariest” location for plane spotting. But whilst spotters are interested in aircraft landings, adrenaline junkies are more interested in when the planes will take off.

Riding the Fence

“Riding the Fence” is a local ritual on Maho beach, located just behind runway 10. Tourists and thrill-seekers grip the fence behind the aircraft take-off spot and hang on for dear life as they get blasted by the jets of departing planes. Sometimes, if they can’t hold on, they’ll get thrown backwards onto the beach or even into the water, which is only a short distance from the fence.

Signs posted around the area alert tourists of the danger of the activity. They warn that standing in the jet blast can “cause severe physical harm resulting in extreme bodily harm and/or death”. A cursory look at some of the fence-riding videos on YouTube quickly confirms these claims. The concrete road between the fence and the beach seems to be an especially hazardous area.

Princess Juliana Airport Sint Maartin riding the Fence warning sign
Warning signs are situated around the beach | Wikimedia commons

Whether visitors take these signs seriously or not is another matter. Sellers on sites like Etsy sell novelty copies of the famous danger warnings. The activity is so popular among tourists that the bars in Sint Maarten even have boards listing aircraft departure times.

Death at Maho Beach

In 2017, a New Zealand Tourist was killed by a jet blast when they lost their grip on the fence and were thrown to the ground, hitting their head on the concrete. The 57-year-old woman sustained serious injuries from the impact and died shortly afterwards in the hospital.

Sint Maarten police spokesman Ricardo Henson told The Washington Post that it was the first death at Airport but noted there had been a number of injuries as a result of tourists riding the fence. He said the police do not have an official number of how many injuries have occurred at Maho Beach.

Second Fence

Following the tragic accident, extra measures were put in place to reduce the risk of further injuries. A second fence was installed a few meters behind the original, though locals we talked to say this has done very little to stop the practice. Even a few extra meters back, the blast is still plenty strong enough to attract thrill-seekers, and still strong enough to cause injuries.

Would you still ride the fence at Princess Juliana Airport? Let us know in the comments below!

You Might Also Like

Ryanair’s Winter Lapland Dream: 2025-2026 Snowy Escape from Birmingham Airport
Farnborough Airshow Day Two – In Review
Hong Kong Government to lead Cathay Pacific’s $5bn Relief Package
Air Cargo Growth Streak Expands to July
Why Lufthansa is the best long-haul airline for a productive flight
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link
What’s your thoughts?
Love1
Sad0
Happy0
Angry0
Josh McMinn
ByJosh McMinn
Follow:
Jr Reporter - Josh is an Jr. Aviation Reporter at Travel Radar covering the latest industry news, developments and passenger experiences. Outside of reporting, Josh is a talented artist and camera operator with experience spanning several industries.
Previous Article klm-restarts-european-operations KLM to cut down summer schedule
Next Article U.S flag Top 3 busiest airports in the United States
Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest

guest

0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Upvoted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Stay Connected

FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
YoutubeSubscribe

Trending News

Cathay Pacific extend their complimentary Wi-Fi to all Cathay Gold members travelling in all cabins from Nov.15, the inflight experience will also be available to first and business class passengers to make travel seamless and convenient to their members.
Cathay Pacific Extends Complimentary Wi-Fi to Gold Members
Airlines Aviation Points & Loyalty Travel
plane crash massachusetts
Small plane crash on Route 195 near Massachusetts kills two passengers
Aircraft Aviation Breaking News Incidents & Accidents
Valletta in Malta
Why More Holidaymakers Are Choosing Malta and Gozo for Their Island Vacation
Travel Travel Radar
American Airlines new class service
American Airlines Announces Changes in Carry-on Baggage Policies
Airlines Aviation Travel
Qatar aiways flight in air
Qatar Faces Lawsuit After Vegetarian Passenger told to ‘Eat Around’ Meat-based Meal Chokes to Death
Airlines Incidents & Accidents
//

Travel Radar is the leading digital hub for all things aviation and air-travel. Discover our latest aviation news, aviation data, insight and analysis.

Discover

  • Latest News
  • Subscribe
  • Weekly Digest
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Media Coverage
  • Press & Events
  • Join Our Team
  • Our Brands

Signup to our Newsletter!

And get the latest aviation news via our weekly news digest!

© Travel Radar Media Ltd. 2015-2025 | ISSN #2635-0696 | Trademark #UK00003579704
wpDiscuz
adbanner
Welcome to the TR Community!

Sign in to your account

Not a member? Sign Up