Daredevil tourists perform ‘extremely dangerous’ plane stunt on Caribbean island
By Harriet Mallinson - The Express
https://i.imgur.com/QBK8abG.jpg
ST MAARTEN airport is famous for its proximity to Maho Beach and attracts hoards of tourists keen to catch a glimpse of the low flying jets. But one couple have been criticised after a photo stunt went too far.
St Maarten holidaymakers have attracted heavy criticism after they performed a highly risky stunt just metres away from an incoming plane.
Oleg Kolisnichenko, 36, and Yuliia Nos, 25, are both circus performers, but their most recent act has been dubbed "highly dangerous" by authorities.
An image, posted to Instagram, shows the daredevil duo doing a one-handed hanstand on top of one another on Maho Beach just as a low-flying cargo plane comes into land.
Her feet almost look like their touching the plane flying above as it comes into land at neighbouring Princess Juliana International Airport.
The Dutch Caribbean island country is famous for its dangerous jet blasts.
But the pair, who had just finished a cruise at the island and wanted to take the souvenir photo, threw caution to the wind.
However, the stunt has been met with much criticism from authorities as well as social media users.
St Maarten Tourist bureau director Rolando Brison described the act as "extremely dangerous.”
One person commented on the photo: “Stupidity at its finest.”
Another said on Instagram: “Extremely stupid. When the plane hits her foot she will actually never walk again. What a stupid move.”
Others, defending the couple, have pointed out that it’s due to an optical illusion that the plane seems so close to Yuliia’s feet.
https://i.imgur.com/TtzVuiG.jpg
Oleg told the Daily Mail that he and Yuliia, who live in Kiev and have worked together since August 2015, were never in any danger.
"We had distance between Yuliia's feet and the airplane of around several metres. Everything was under control."
Iuliia told news.com.au: “We absolutely love acrobatics and we like to have fun with it outside of work.
“After a few tries, we managed to perform it as the plane arrived, but we didn’t expect it to be so big and so close to us. It didn’t touch my feet but I felt so much air from the plane and I lost my balance.
“It was so much fun and exciting but it was only after I realised how dangerous it was.”
https://i.imgur.com/R1xZXFu.jpg
Maho Beach: Princess Juliana airport has a runway half the size of most international airports
In July last year a tourist was killed on Maho beach. The 57-year-old woman was seriously injured after being blasted by a jet engine and hitting her head in the fall, according to media reports.
She died a short time later, despite paramedics trying to save her.
Last month a video emerged of a woman who was blown so strongly she was sent flying into the curb and hit her head.
There are signs in the area to warn holidaymakers against standing too close to the fence.
Princess Juliana International Airport is the second busiest in the Eastern Caribbean, but has a runway half the size of most international airports, explaining why people can get so close to the jet.
Lukla Airport in Nepal is another highly terrifying airport. The tiny runway of 1,729 feet has a 2000 mile cliff drop on one side and a stone wall and Buddhist shrine on the other.
Electricity in the area is poor meaning it is not uncommon for pilots to lose connection with air traffic controllers mid-flight - not a very comforting thought.
