Tourists on Skiathos are still standing close to aircraft at Skiathos Airport for photos and videos, even after repeated warnings about jet blast at Xanemos Beach. A British tourist seriously injured after falling from a raised ledge remains hospitalised in Volos under close medical supervision.
Every summer, dozens of tourists and residents gather at Xanemos Beach next to the island’s airport to watch planes land and take off from extremely close range. The practice is known as plane spotting, and the force from airplane engines can sweep up people and objects and push them into the sea.
Xanemos Beach and Skiathos Airport
A video published by the Daily Mail shows tourists on Skiathos standing just a short distance from aircraft as a plane prepares to take off. The footage also shows personal belongings being swept into the sea, a direct sign of how powerful the airflow can be when aircraft move at close range.
Authorities on Skiathos repeatedly warn about the serious risks of standing so close to aircraft. Injuries have been reported over the years because of the powerful airflow generated by airplane engines, yet some people continue to take the risk for a photograph or video.
British tourist in Volos
The British tourist’s injury has given the long-running danger added weight. After falling from a raised ledge in Skiathos, the tourist was taken to Volos, where the person remains hospitalised under close medical supervision.
For anyone going to Xanemos Beach, the practical choice is simple: stay away from the aircraft approach area and do not treat the shoreline as a safe viewing point. Skiathos authorities are still warning about the danger, but the pattern at the beach shows that the risk remains tied to how close people choose to stand.
