Destinations where runways jut out from a mountain or appear in narrow valleys can be particularly challenging. We’ve selected 10 of the most dangerous airports in the world to land at, even for the most skilled of pilots.
In terms of traveling long distances, flying on an airplane is the fastest and easiest way to get to your destination. The only problem is that flat stretches of the runway aren't always available in certain places. This means that pilots have to be particularly skilled to land on a runway that juts out from a mountain or one that appears in a narrow valley. Here are 10 of the most dangerous airports in the world to land at.
1. Lukla Airport – Nepal
Tenzing-Hillary Airport, located in Lukla, is considered the world's most dangerous No. 1 airport! Nicknamed "the airport of the adventurers", this is where most of the "adventurers" who want to climb Mount Everest leave. Mostly made up of mountains, Nepal is not the safest country to accommodate planes on its soil ... Located at 2 860 meters, the track is, in addition to that, bent at 12 °. Landing alive ... A real challenge!
2. Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport – Saba Island
Surrounded on the one hand by the assembly, on the other hand by the sea, the only track of the Juancho E. Yrausquin airport is, on top of that, really tiny (only 396 meters!). Add gusts of wind that sweep the Dutch island of Saba very often ... And you will get one of the most dangerous airports in the world. Notice to experienced pilots ...
3. Princess Juliana International Airport – St. Maarten
Située au bord de l’eau, la piste d’atterrissage de l’aéroport Princess Juliana est connue pour être très courte. Et surtout, pour être très proche de la plage et des touristes… Obligé de se positionner à seulement 10-20 mètres au-dessus de l’une des plus célèbres plages de l’île néerlandaise, on imagine la frayeur de certaines personnes, la première fois qu’ils ont vu un avion leur foncer dessus…
4. Narsarsuaq Airport – Greenland
the extreme airports in cold Greenland are constantly covered in ice. At only 1,800 meters and canvassed in slick ice, this runway is the most difficult in the world for any pilot. The weather is constantly stormy creating intense turbulence and low visibility on approach making it the worst airport in the world for both flight staff as well as passengers. Shear winds affect planes which, coupled with the icy runway, can direct them off course. The nearby active volcano also commonly erupts sending ash into the clouds which can stall and destroy engines. Time of landing is also one of the things yyou have to consider.
5. McMurdo Air Station – Antarctica
Another offender on the dangerous airport list is McMurdo Air Station in Antarctica. Averaging below-freezing temperatures, 365 days of the year, flying into the U.S. Antarctic Station can test even the best pilot. While the runways are long, they are made of ice and the weather is variable. If you’re not phased by the freezing temperatures, at the right time of year, knowing your pilots are landing the plane using night vision goggles because it’s dark all day, might just change your mind.
6. Toncontin Airport – Honduras
Toncontin Airport is one of the deadliest airports with 6 fatal crashes since 1989. It has a short runway, mountainous terrain and wind gusts due to its high altitude. The airport’s notorious runway “02” is one of the world’s shortest for big commercial jets coming in at 1,863 meters (6,112 ft). During descent, planes need to make a 45-degree bank to effectively reach the 2,133 meters (7,000 ft) runway located in a valley.
7. Paro Airport – Bhutan
In Bhutan there is only one airport, Paro. Located in the heart of a valley bordered by the Himalayan mountains, it rises to almost 5,500 meters. Renowned as one of the most dangerous in the world, only one company serves the airport: Druckair; and only 8 Bhutanese pilots are certified in the world to land and take off. Other volunteers?
8. Madeira Airport – Portugal
Enlarged in 2000 because it is considered too short, the runway at Madeira airport has been extended by several meters. Yes but ... In the water! The relief of the Portuguese island does not allow to do it on the mainland, Funchal has equipped its new track with a bridge of 180 concrete pillars. Easier to land, pilots must still keep a maximum concentration ... Attention, take out the vests!
9. MCAS in Futenma – Japan
This airport is situated in a US Marine Corps Air Station in Okinawa, Japan. The Navy and the Marine Corps rank it as the most dangerous airport in the world where F/A-18 Hornets and V-22 Osprey continuously land. The area is strategically important to the US military, which is part of the reason it maintains operation. Part of the reason this airport is so dangerous is because high-density housing sits in an area that should be cleared for emergency situations. This makes it one of the worst airports in Asia and a problem for most airlines.
10. Gibraltar Airport, Gibraltar
The airport which serves the British overseas territory has made full use of the minimal space and lack of flat land available by building its only runway through the main street of the city. Vehicles are made to stop every time an aircraft lands or takes off. Somehow there has never been a major accident.
