A resident of Beek, Netherlands, experienced great shock on Monday evening when his shed’s roof near his home suffered heavy damage due to strong air turbulence caused by the low pass of a Turkish Cargo Boeing 777 (TC-LJL) arriving from Miami.
During the incident, homeowner Peter Op’t Veld first heard a “very loud noise” and then noticed that his yard was covered with hundreds of broken tiles and debris. Reports indicate that between 200 and 300 tiles were dislodged from the shed’s roof, multiple holes formed, and the structure became unusable.
“I Can’t Enter Without Wearing a Helmet”
Op’t Veld stated that loose tiles remain on the roof:
“If I really need to go into the shed, I put on a helmet before entering. The tiles on the roof are still in a dangerous condition,” he said.
Airport: “Such Incidents Occur 10–15 Times a Year”
Authorities at Maastricht Aachen Airport announced that the resident’s report was received immediately after the incident and a roofing specialist was assigned. However, repairs could not be carried out Monday night due to darkness and heavy rain.
A second expert arriving on Tuesday was unable to intervene due to the roof’s height and instability.
The airport noted that strong air currents generated by aircraft engines during low-altitude landings cause similar incidents 10–15 times a year.
Ironic Detail: Homeowner Was Studying Aircraft Turbulence
Another striking aspect of the incident is that Peter Op’t Veld has been participating in a research project on aircraft-generated air turbulence using measuring devices installed on his roof since the summer.
The homeowner analyzed flight data and determined that the Turkish Cargo plane attempted two landings, and on the second approach flew approximately 400 feet lower—directly over his house.
Damage Still Not Repaired
Although airport authorities announced that they will cooperate with the homeowner to repair the damage, as of Tuesday morning, the shed’s roof remains holed and dangerous.
