But this isn't necessarily an unusual occurrence on the Greek Island. The runway at Skiathos Airport is just 1,628 metres long and, due to the geography of the island, pilots have to approach the landing much lower than they would at other airports.

The Skiathos Alexandros Papadiamantis Airport (JSI) on the island of Skiathos is widely recognized as having the shortest runway in Greece for commercial jet operations. The runway measures approximately 5,341 feet (1,628 meters) in length. Because of the island's mountainous terrain, the runway was created by reclaiming land from the sea, effectively joining Skiathos to the smaller nearby island of Lazareta. Its extreme shortness and narrowness mean that pilots must undergo special training to land there, and departing planes often have to take off with limited fuel to remain light enough, sometimes stopping at a nearby airport like Thessaloniki to refuel. The airport has become a world-famous spot for "plane spotting" because the runway begins just feet away from a public road; tourists often gather to experience the incredible "jet blast" as massive aircraft like the Boeing 757 swoop in just over their heads. While other smaller airfields for light aircraft exist, Skiathos holds the record for the shortest runway serving major international passenger jets.