Tourists blasted by sandstorm from jet

It's never a good idea to stand directly behind a jet as it takes off - particularly when the runway is a beach.

Tourists on the Greek island of Skiathos learned this the hard way, as they observed a Boeing 757 departing for the UK.

As they gathered to watch the Thomson Holidays plane take off, they were blasted with sand and debris as the jet's engine created a sandstorm.

Footage posted on YouTube shows holidaymakers in swimwear waving at the plane, before the sandstorm forces them to run for cover, their belongings flung across the beach.

Tourists ran for cover as the jet sent clouds of sand billowing. Photo / YouTube, Cargospotter

The airport at Xanemos Beach is a popular spot for tourists and aviation enthusiasts to get close to aircrafts as they arrive and depart.

Signs posted warn people to "keep away from aircraft blast", the Daily Mail reported.
The person who posted the video said most of those watching were not aware of these dangers.

"This Boeing 757 of Thomson departed back home to England and lots of tourists were watching the biggest airplane which is allowed to operate from this airport," they wrote on Youtube.

"Most of them were not aware of the power a jet engine can generate during departure. Especially the woman which was just walking by [she] was no aviation enthusiast and was just on her way to the city."

- nzherald.co.nz