In the airports, whose runways lead directly to public squares, aviation enthusiasts come regularly to marvel at the spectacular plane landings. But sometimes these landings can also be dangerous.
This is the case of the airport runway on the island of Skiathos in Greece, which attracts tourists, aviation enthusiasts and plane observers to admire and film the most spectacular landings.
On August 5, a plane belonging to the Hungarian company Wizz Air landed a few meters from the heads of dozens of tourists who were staying on a beach near the runway.
The video of this spectacular landing near the danger zone caused a sensation worldwide and was shared and commented on by many media. The images were filmed by a photographer with a passion for aircraft, equipped with professional equipment including a camera and tripod.
Landing at Skiathos Airport in Greece: a bewildering spectacle, but not without risk
When the plane approached the beach, the pilot had to descend only a few meters from the sea, and when it arrived over the mainland, where the tourists were staying, the plane was practically at ground level, which caused admiration and fear among those present.
In the pictures, the plane’s wing can be seen just before landing, a few meters from the photographer’s head. However, the approach of the captain of the Wizz Air plane was no coincidence.
In fact, the runway at Skiathos Airport is very short, measuring only about 1628m. And since it is only a few meters from the beach, pilots have to approach at ground level to immobilize the plane in the right place on the tarmac at the right time.
The landings at this airport are therefore very spectacular and attract more and more curious people. While the spectacle is often bewildering, it’s definitely not without risk. According to Le Parisien, a child was injured in the same spot in 2021 after being thrown into the air by a plane engine explosion.