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As Hurricane Irma devastated Caribbean tourist havens on Wednesday, St. Maarten's famous Princess Juliana International Airport was severely damaged by the extreme winds.
St. Maarten took a direct hit from the Category 5 storm, with possible winds of 185 MPH. The small island nation is known for its pristine beaches, and a beach side international airport. The airport is famous for its takeoffs and landings that go right over the beach.
The airport handles more than 1.5 million passengers a year and 60,000 flights.
Video posted by the St. Maarten government showed parts of the Princess Juliana International Airport's roof getting blown off. Video during the storm showed debris flying in the extreme winds.
Authorities were unable to land a supply aircraft at the airport on Thursday.
Op St. Maarten brengen 300 militairen oa schade #Irma in kaart, nog eens 100+ militairen vertrekken vanavond. #video https://t.co/VPuQ5pWaWx pic.twitter.com/UiFaq1GGZm
— Min. van Defensie (@DefensieOnline) September 7, 2017
