Ruth Haines
Airports that are considered dangerous often share a number of features, including short runways, unpredictable weather, and precarious locations. These factors can make the approach and landing phases of a flight—already the riskiest parts of any flight—even more challenging for pilots. While air travel has become safer over the years, some airports are still considered more dangerous than others.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airports with dangerous runways | Barra International Airport, Bhuntar Airport, Courchevel Altiport, Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Ice Runway Airfield, Scíathos International Airport, Cristiano Ronaldo Airport, Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Helena Airport, Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport, Lukla Airport, Matekane Airport, Tioman Island Airport, Paro Airport, Congonhas, Toncontin International Airport, Sao Paulo's airport, Innsbruck Airport |
| Common reasons for danger | Short runways, mountainous terrain, unpredictable winds, fog, turbulent landings, proximity to the ocean, surrounding neighbourhood homes, tricky approach, slippery conditions, poor weather conditions, narrow runways, severe weather conditions |
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What You'll Learn
Airports with short runways
Lukla Airport, Nepal
Lukla Airport, also known as Tenzing-Hillary Airport, is located 9,383 feet above sea level, surrounded by mountainous terrain. Its short runway is 1,729 feet long (a typical runway is 7,000-10,000 feet long) and sits on the edge of a cliff, with a 2,000-foot drop on one side and a stone wall on the other. Pilots must fly in at higher speeds, and the airport is only serviced by helicopters and small fixed-wing aircraft.
Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten
This extremely busy Caribbean airport has a runway of just 7,152 feet. Planes must approach at about 60 feet above a crowded beach, sandblasting sunbathers.
Courchevel Altiport, French Alps
Courchevel Altiport's runway is just 1,722 feet long, with a hill in the middle. Only the most experienced pilots can fly there, and only one airline, Alpine Airlines, is allowed to operate commercial charter flights.
Matekane, Lesotho
The remote airstrip in Matekane, Africa, has been called the scariest runway in the world. At just 1,300 feet, planes don't have time to start flying before they reach a 2,000-foot cliff, so they must drop down the cliff face until they become airborne.
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Saba
With a runway of just 1,312 feet, this airport has the shortest runway in the world available for commercial use. It is surrounded by the sea on three sides and high hills on the fourth. Only regional propeller aircraft can use the airport.
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Airports with mountainous terrain
Airports located in mountainous regions pose a unique set of challenges and risks for pilots, often requiring special skills and training to navigate safely. Here are some airports known for their mountainous terrain:
Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Nepal
Tenzing-Hillary Airport, also known as Lukla Airport, is located in the town of Lukla in the Khumbu Pasanglhamu region of Nepal. With an elevation of over 9,000 feet, it is considered one of the most dangerous airports in the world. The runway is short and steep, ending in a sheer drop into a valley. The airport is surrounded by mountainous terrain, and the region's unpredictable weather conditions, including strong winds and low visibility, make landing and taking off extremely challenging. Only experienced pilots with advanced training are qualified to fly at this airport.
Toncontín International Airport, Tegucigalpa
Toncontín International Airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, is notorious for its difficult approach. Pilots must make a sharp 45-degree turn just minutes before touchdown, navigating through a valley surrounded by mountains and neighbourhood homes. The 7,000-foot tabletop runway leaves little room for error, and overshooting can have fatal consequences. Due to its infamy, a new airport with a longer runway and better facilities is being built to replace it.
Courchevel Altiport, France
Located in the heart of the French Alps, Courchevel Altiport presents a unique set of challenges with its short runway of just 1,722 feet and a distinct hill in the middle. Only the most experienced pilots can navigate this dangerous airport, which is considered one of the most treacherous in Europe.
Paro Airport, Bhutan
Paro Airport, nestled among the Himalayan Mountains in Bhutan, is another extremely challenging airport. With a 6,500-foot runway surrounded by mountains and houses, only a handful of pilots are qualified to land here. The descent involves flying against severe winds that cause extreme turbulence, and visual flight rules mean that planes cannot take off or land at night or on cloudy days.
Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten
Princess Juliana International Airport, located on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten, is known for its extremely short runway of just over 7,000 feet. The airport's proximity to a crowded beach and mountain terrain makes it a dangerous and thrilling landing experience. Planes must approach low over the water, barely clearing the fence before landing, providing dramatic photo opportunities for tourists.
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Airports with unpredictable weather conditions
Airports located in regions with severe weather conditions can pose significant challenges for pilots, often increasing the likelihood of accidents and disruptions. Here are some airports known for their unpredictable and treacherous weather conditions:
Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Nepal
Tenzing-Hillary Airport, also known as Lukla Airport, is situated at an elevation of 9,383 feet and is surrounded by towering mountains. The short runway of just 1,729 feet sits precariously on the edge of a cliff, with a 2,000-foot drop on one side. Due to its treacherous location and weather conditions, the airport operates strictly during daylight hours and is heavily dependent on favourable weather.
Toncontin International Airport, Tegucigalpa
Toncontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, is notorious for its challenging approach, surrounded by mountains. Pilots must execute a nerve-wracking 45-degree turn just minutes before touchdown in the valley and navigate through neighbourhood homes. The 7,000-foot tabletop runway leaves little room for error, and overshooting it can have fatal consequences.
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport, USA
The Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport in the United States is situated in a mountainous region with unpredictable winds and, at times, intense fog. These weather conditions, coupled with a sandy runway, make it a challenging airport for pilots to navigate.
Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten
Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten is known for its extremely short runway of just 7,152 feet. The airport is located right next to a crowded beach, and planes must approach the runway at a dangerously low altitude of about 60 feet, often resulting in sunbathers getting blasted by wind and sand.
Courchevel Altiport, France
Located in the heart of the French Alps, Courchevel Altiport presents a formidable challenge with its short runway of only 1,722 feet and a distinct hill in the middle. Only the most experienced pilots can navigate this treacherous airport, which is situated at an elevation of 6,588 feet.
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Airports with dangerous approaches
Airports are classed as dangerous based on several factors, including location, terrain, weather conditions, and design. Here are some airports with dangerous approaches:
Lukla Airport, Nepal
Also known as Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla Airport is located 9,383 feet above sea level and is surrounded by mountainous terrain. Its short runway of 1,729 feet sits on the edge of a cliff, with a 2,000-foot drop on one side and a stone wall on the other. Lukla is a popular starting point for the Mount Everest trek and is only operational during daylight hours.
Toncontín International Airport, Tegucigalpa
The approach to this airport is considered one of the most difficult in the world, with pilots needing to make a 45-degree turn minutes before touchdown in the valley and navigate through neighborhood homes. The 7,000-foot-long tabletop runway is particularly dangerous, as overshooting it can be fatal.
Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten
This airport has an extremely short runway of 7,152 feet, causing planes to approach at a very low altitude of about 60 feet above a crowded beach. The unique approach has become a tourist attraction, with aviation enthusiasts flocking to the beach to witness the dramatic landings.
Courchevel Altiport, France
Located in the French Alps, Courchevel Altiport has a very short runway of just 1,722 feet with a distinct hill in the middle. Only the most experienced pilots can navigate this challenging runway, which is perched at an elevation of 6,588 feet.
Madeira Airport, Portugal
Also known as Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport and Funchal Airport, Madeira Airport is notorious for its turbulent landings due to the surrounding mountainous terrain and strong Atlantic winds. The short runway, extended with 180 columns in the water, requires pilots to make tricky manoeuvres to safely put themselves on course for landing.
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Airports with dangerous departures
Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Nepal
Also known as Lukla Airport, this airport is located 9,383 feet above sea level and is surrounded by mountains. Its short runway of 1,729 feet sits on the edge of a cliff, with a 2,000-foot drop on one side and a stone wall on the other. The unpredictable mountain weather conditions mean flights only operate in the morning, and it is common for them to be cancelled due to sudden snow or fog. Only small planes and helicopters can take off here, and captains need special training.
Toncontín International Airport, Tegucigalpa
Surrounded by mountains, the approach to this airport involves a nerve-wracking 45-degree turn just minutes before touchdown in the valley. Pilots must also navigate through neighbourhood homes. The 7,000-foot-long runway is particularly dangerous to overshoot. The site has been the location of several crashes.
Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten
This airport in the Caribbean has an extremely short runway of 7,152 feet, which means planes must approach at a height of just 60 feet over a crowded beach.
Courchevel Altiport, French Alps
Considered one of the most dangerous airports in Europe, the runway at Courchevel is just 1,722 feet long and has a hill in the middle. Only the most experienced pilots can navigate the snow, wind, ice, mountains and valleys to get there.
Barra Airport, Scotland
The only airport in the world where takeoffs and landings occur directly on the beach, Barra is significantly impacted by the tide. Its three runways are fully submerged underwater during high tide.
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Frequently asked questions
Some of the most dangerous airports in the world include:
- Tenzing-Hillary Airport, also known as Lukla Airport, in Nepal
- Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong
- Narsarsuaq Airport
- Toncontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa
- Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten
- Courchevel Altiport in the French Alps
- Paro Airport in Bhutan
- Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, also known as Madeira Airport, in Greenland
Tenzing-Hillary Airport is located 9,334 feet above sea level and is surrounded by mountainous terrain. Its runway is short and sits on the edge of a cliff with a 2,000-foot drop on one side. The weather in the mountains is unpredictable, and flights only operate in the morning.
Kai Tak Airport is now closed but was known for its complex manoeuvre required for landing. Planes approaching the runway had to make several turns to be in position, earning it the nickname "Kai Tak Heart Attack" among passengers.
Airports with extremely short runways that are considered dangerous include:
- Princess Juliana Airport in St. Maarten
- The remote airstrip in Matekane, Lesotho
- Tioman Island Airport
- Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport
