Among the destruction due to the storm’s 185 mph winds is the famed Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side of the divided island, the country of St. Maarten.
In the photos that have emerged from the island, the airport’s terminal looks to be severely damaged, while at least one of its jet bridges has collapsed. The runway is also covered in sand and debris.
The celebrity status of Princess Juliana International Airport, a major transit point for tourists visiting the region, comes from its runway’s proximity to Maho Beach, allowing tourists close-up views of airliners skimming overhead to land and the feeling of the jet blast of aircraft taking off.
According to The Guardian, Irma made landfall on St. Martin early Wednesday, causing heavy flooding and a blackout.
