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the last blast

St Maarten airport will no longer see packed 747 jumbo jets buzz its famous beach

Crowds gather on sand, cameras at the ready, as last flights skim their heads before precariously touching down by shore

THE hair-raising sight of mighty Boeing 747s skimming a beach before touching down on St Maarten is no more.

It's the end of an era for KLM's 747 flights to the Dutch Caribbean island which boasts one of the world's most terrifying approaches.

Thrilling sight of KLM Boeing 747 within feet of the beach on St Maarten
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Thrilling sight of KLM Boeing 747 within feet of the beach on St MaartenCredit: Getty Images

 

 

Crowds get blasted by jet engines as they snap away
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Crowds get blasted by jet engines as they snap awayCredit: Getty Images

Friday was the last chance for crowds to gather on Maho beach, cameras in hand, to watch the aircraft skimming their heads at just 100ft on approach to Princess Juliana International Airport.

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The jets have been flying to St Maarten and touching down on its astonishing beachside runway since 1990.

Jets skim the beach at just 100 ft
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Jets skim the beach at just 100 ftCredit: Getty Images

 

KLM 747s are being replaced by a smaller Airbus
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KLM 747s are being replaced by a smaller AirbusCredit: Alamy

The airport will now be receiving a smaller Airbus with 243 passengers, nearly half what the four-engine 747s could seat.

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