World’s Shortest Runway Landing - Caribbean’s Extreme Flight

Join me on a flight to 2 of the most dangerous airports in the Caribbean; Saba and St Barth. Here, you are not afraid to fly, but rather to land!

Starting with some plane spotting action at St Maarten Princess Juliana Int’l Airport. Most beach vacationers gather on Maho Beach and anxiously wait for the plane to fly a few meters above their heads before landing and resisting the jet blast on takeoff.

I flew with SXM Airways pilot Jean-Marc Oliver on the Britten Norman Islander (BN-2A-26) from St Maarten to Saba. Saba Airport has the world’s shortest commercial runway at just 400m. The entire island is mountainous and looks like Jurassic Park. Watch our landing and takeoff at Saba, the plane used the entire runway for takeoff and literally “dropped” after leaving the runway!

Next is St Barth. As beautiful as the runway on the Caribbean island, the landing is extreme! Located between the mountains and the sea, it is only 640 meters long. We encountered some strong crosswinds and turbulence before “diving” into the airport. It was some of my most exciting flight as I had to stop filming to watch out for the landing.

[adilmahmud]

Wow the young pilot seems very confident and great personality

[allanben]

For a pilot to agree to do a circuit for filming is a blessing😁. He is a really cool and down to earth pilot

[aquariumdvd]

I’ve watched a million of Sam’s videos. This might be the best. Flying at its most pure form. Loved every minute, and loved to see the young pilot so passionate about what he does. Great video.

[htschmerdtz]

Great young man, Jean-Marc, with solid stick and rudder skill, conquers Saba and St. Barth with ease. 👨‍✈

[vivorared]

Wow awesome...heart stopping landing...hats off to the pilot..from Philippines..

[rlwoodlief]

That pilot was awesome. Definitely someone I would trust with my life.

[kimmyboy]

The pilot is so nice and friendly. Star of this episode.

[joephipps]

I worked with SXM and Jean Marc to do his King Air 200 Initial training. He is a very talented young aviator and will go far. He is also one cool dude and my wife and I honeymooned to St. Marteen based on his and Jeff's recommendation.

Great video guys!!

[JohnJohn-ztjx]

Got goosebumps just reading the appreciation comments for the pilot and I agree with everyone of them. Amazing. When he was landing it looked like he was driving a rally car 😭 amazing

[Melieg]

WOW, I could fly all day with that Jean Marc. He makes it so exciting to fly but he also maintains such a cool, professional manner.

[Worldtraveler]

I was just in St Maarten on New Year’s Eve… amazing plane spotting .. defiantly want to go back… what a wonderful pilot he will go far in aviation.. best of luck to him.

[arisellebullard]

International airlines needs to hire this guy on the spot. If you can land on one of the world’s shortest runway you can fly any airline. 👏🏾👏🏾

[teazerfemi]

Wow! That pilot is so cool, calm and collected

[daddygates]

Jean Marc is obviously very very experienced. And so young as well. He has a very very bright future.

[MichaelG]

This has to be one of the very best of Sam's videos. Brilliant stuff. The young pilot is cool.

[steini]

Huge fan of your channel on this platform Sam. As a pilot and parachuter for some 35 years, your pilot today was fabulous! Thank you all.

[carlosmunoz]

Loved it ! So far my favorite video you ever made ! I saw the host get scared !!! The pilot is a highly skilled young man !

[vinnylewis]

you should come to Montserrat too!! Airport is similar to Saba with a deep valley each on either end of the 600m long airstrip!

[kestrelbicycle]

I just don't get tired of watching landing/takeoffs in the Caribbean!

[leazer]

Wow! I’m so jealous! And such a cool and laid back pilot! One of your best videos yet!!