Watch: Maho Beach on Approach to Princess Juliana International Airport Before and After Irma
Maho Beach has seemingly disappeared...for now.
Everyone who’s ever been to Sint Maarten knows and loves the Maho Beach area. It draws people from near and far who seek the thrill of a commercial aircraft buzzing over their head as it comes in to land at Princess Juliana International Airport.
Once you’ve been to the island, knowing what’s in store for those on Maho Beach as your return flight comes in to land, makes flying in to Sint Maarten that much better. I love looking out the window to see all the people at Sunset Beach Bar every time we return. There’s nothing like it. It feels like a welcome back party before you’ve even stepped foot off the plane.
Naturally, there was a lot of damage to Sunset Beach Bar and Maho Beach due to Hurricane Irma. I found a video (below the photos) on YouTube that shows two approaches and landings at Princess Juliana International Airport. The first shows a landing before Irma. The second shows a landing after Irma.
The most noticeable difference is the loss of nearly all of the sand from the beach. Apparently, this is a phenomenon that has occurred in the past, normally happening when hurricanes or large storms erode the small beach. When this happens, the government replaces the sand at the end of the hurricane season. So, no worries, Maho Beach will rise again!
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Before:
After:
Video of both landings:
