Flying can be a daunting experience, especially if you’re landing at one of the most challenging airports in the world. Pilots must navigate tricky terrain, short runways, and unpredictable weather conditions.
Here are five destinations that are considered to be amongst some of the most dangerous commercial airports in the world.
Lukla Airport, Nepal
Located in the Himalayan Mountains, Lukla Airport is considered the “most dangerous airport in the world.”
The airport has a short runway with a steep incline and is surrounded by mountains on both sides. The landing strip is only 500 meters long, and the runway ends with a steep cliff.
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There is no go-around procedure for landing, which means that pilots must make a successful landing on the first attempt.
The airport is the gateway to Mount Everest, and it is the starting point for many trekkers and mountaineers. Due to the difficult terrain and high altitude, only highly skilled pilots can safely navigate the landing strip.
Paro Airport, Bhutan
Paro Airport is located in a deep valley surrounded by the Himalayan Mountains. The airport has a short runway that is only 1.98 kilometers long, and the approach to the airport is through a narrow valley.
The landing strip is surrounded by mountains, and pilots must navigate through the valley to reach the airport. Due to the difficult terrain and unpredictable weather conditions, only a handful of pilots are qualified to land at the airport.
The airport is the only international airport in Bhutan and is the gateway to the country’s capital, Thimphu.
Toncontín International Airport, Honduras
Toncontín International Airport is located in a densely populated urban area and is considered one of the most challenging airports in the world.
The airport has a short runway, which is only 2.2 kilometers long, and is surrounded by mountains. The approach to the airport is over the mountains, and pilots must make a sharp turn to land on the runway.
Due to the challenging approach and the short runway, only highly skilled pilots can safely navigate the landing strip. The airport is the main gateway to Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras.
Madeira International Airport, Portugal
Madeira International Airport is located on the island of Madeira and is known for its challenging landing strip. The airport has a short runway, which is only 1.6 kilometers long, and is surrounded by mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.
Due to the difficult terrain and unpredictable weather conditions, the airport has been expanded to include a runway extension and a new terminal building.
The runway extension has allowed larger planes to land at the airport, but the landing strip is still considered challenging and one of the trickiest airports due to the surrounding mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.
Princess Juliana International Airport, Saint Martin
Princess Juliana International Airport is located on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin and is known for its low-altitude flyover approach over the Maho Beach.
The airport has a short runway, which is only 2.18 kilometers long, and is surrounded by the ocean on both sides.
The landing strip is situated close to the beach, which attracts many tourists who come to watch the planes land and take off.
Due to the unpredictable wind conditions and the close proximity to the beach, pilots must use caution when landing at the airport.
Clear to land
Five of the trickiest airports; these are among the most challenging commercial airports in the world. Factors like difficult terrain, short runways, unpredictable weather conditions, or a combination thereof sometimes present a challenge to aviators!
While these airports can be daunting for some, they are also considered an adventure by others. Either way, the tourists keep coming back for more.
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