20 Most Dangerous Airports In The World

1. Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong

Kai Tak Honk Hong

Probably the most dangerous airport ever, Kai Tak was the international airport of Hong Kong from 1925 until 1998. It was so dangerous that it was closed down in 1998 to avoid more accidents. In its time, it was famous among pilots for having an extremely difficult landing.

One of the multiple dangers at Kai Tak was the lack of a ‘bailout’ area. At most airports, pilots have their last chance to abandon their descent at around 500 feet to go back around and make a second attempt. But at Kai Tak, pilots couldn’t even level their wings until about 300 feet, meaning landings there were risky and practically impossible to save once they went wrong.

During its 63 years in operation, Kai Tak saw a staggering 14 major aviation incidents. The deadliest incident was in 1965, when an American military aircraft struck a sea wall shortly after liftoff. It crashed into the water, resulting in 71 fatalities. Then in 1993, the airport’s most infamous accident occurred when a commercial flight overran the runway while attempting to land in gale-force winds. Even though the approach was unstable, the pilot couldn’t make a second attempt. The plane skidded across the runway and ended up submerged in the waters of Hong Kong’s harbor.

2. Toncontin International Airport, Honduras

Toncontin International Airport, Honduras

At Toncontin International Airport, even the most experienced pilots admit to feeling a little scared to land. Landing at the airport is so dangerous that pilots require special training before they attempt it. Of all the airports in the world that serve commercial flights, it has the shortest runway. Because of the surrounding terrain, approaching aircraft must descend rapidly before meeting the terrifyingly short runway, which has a 65 feet cliff waiting at the end for any plane that overshoots. Pilots landing here must land in exactly the right spot or risk their lives.

Pilots aren’t fearful of this airport without reason. In 2008, a landing attempt went horribly wrong when a pilot couldn’t land at his first attempt. After informing passengers that he was going to have to make a second attempt, events took a terrible turn when a strong wind from the South pushed the plane to a higher ground speed as it touched down.

The plane couldn’t stop in time and crashed down the cliff and onto a busy street below. 3 people on the plane and 2 on the ground were killed in the crash. Before that, another plane suffered the same fate in 1998, resulting in the loss of 3 lives.

3. Gustaf III Airport, St Barths

Gustaf III Airport, St Barths

The beautiful island of St Barths is a destination popular among the rich and famous –  celebrities such as Simon Cowell and Jon Bon Jovi have been known to holiday there, among many more. The small Caribbean island has stunning beaches, luxury hotels, designer stores… and one of the most dangerous airports on the planet.

Its incredibly short runway measures only 2,100 feet with a daunting 150-foot hill on one end and a popular beach on the other. Because of the small runway, the airport only serves small aircraft – most only able to carry less than twenty passengers. Tourists are warned not to lounge on the section of beach that lies meters away from the runway, but these warnings go ignored and departing planes regularly fly right over the heads of sunbathers.

To make the landing extra difficult, mountains surround the airport, forcing pilots to make a quick descent. In 2013, a light aircraft crashed into one of the surrounding mountains while attempting the tricky landing.

4. Gibraltar International Airport

Gibraltar International Airport

The dangerous thing about Gibraltar airport is its unusual location. Pilots descending onto Gibraltar have a battle on their hands to ensure their passengers arrive safely as the island suffers from extremely adverse weather and particularly powerful winds. The infamous levant winds form a massive smoke-like cloud when they hit the island, and South-West winds cause a severe downdraft and nasty turbulence. The conditions here are so extreme that they can’t even be rehearsed in a flight simulator.

Britain and Spain have a dispute over the territory. Although Britain governs Gibraltar, Spain technically ‘owns’ some airspace around it. So, on top of the terrifying winds, pilots have to make complicated maneuvers to avoid the ‘no-fly’ zone that Spain has in place.

If all of that wasn’t enough – a four-lane highway goes right through the middle of the runway. Barriers go down when an aircraft is coming in to stop traffic, but this doesn’t stop pedestrian tourists from stopping right in the middle to take a photograph. Visitors to the island often unknowingly put themselves at risk when they don’t realise they’re standing on an active runway.

5. Gisborne Airport, New Zealand

Gisborne Airport, New Zealand

Gisbourne, New Zealand is known as the first city in the world to see the sun. This easternmost tip of the country is famous for its beautiful coastline, densely forested mountain parks, surfing, fishing, and for being a center for wine and agriculture. Visitors come from all around to enjoy what Gisbourne has to offer – and some come simply for the thrill of flying into its insane airport…

What’s so spectacular about it? Well, Gisbourne Airport has an active railway that intersects with the runway. To avoid aircraft colliding with the passing trains, the railway and airport schedules must be coordinated extremely carefully. Trains and aircraft often come within meters of each other – a jaw-dropping sight for passengers.

Managing the two is tricky for officials, and sometimes trains are forced to pause to make way for an aircraft as it lands. Amazingly, there haven’t been any nasty accidents at Gisbourne so far. It is only a matter of time before air traffic control gets it wrong?

6. Paro Airport, Bhutan

Paro Airport, Bhutan

At 1.5 miles above sea level, this airport is so extreme that there are only 8 pilots in the world allowed to fly here. Bhutan Airport is nestled in the Himalayan mountains, a destination only visited by the brave and adventurous.

Locals living in the houses dotted on the mountainside are used to planes coming unsettlingly close to their rooftops as they weave through the mountain tops on their descent. The mountain peaks surrounding the airport reach up to 18,000 feet, so pilots can only see fleeting glimpses of the landing strip as they approach. To top it off, there is no radar system to guide planes into the airport. Pilots have to rely on their skills alone and land completely manually.

Passengers landing here need to have a strong stomach. The runway lies in a valley that, on windy days, acts as a wind tunnel that causes stomach-churning turbulence. But if you’re brave enough, the bird’s-eye view of the Himalayas might just be worth it.

7. Narsarsuaq Airport, Greenland

Narsarsuaq Airport, Greenland 2

Narsarsuaq Airport was first built during World War Two as an airbase, but the area surrounding it is small, and today passengers primarily use it as a transfer point.

The terrifying thing about Narsarsuaq Airport is its frozen runways. Greenland is covered by an ice sheet as temperature can be as low as-21 °C in winter. Landing on this icy strip requires to be very experienced and own a great deal of courage. Along with the ice and frost are unpredictable harsh winds and fog, which can ruin the pilot’s visibility as the plane skid along the ice to a stop.

Along with the harsh weather conditions, active volcanoes are worryingly close to the runway. They routinely spit out ashes causing an even more difficult landing. The last accident here was in 2001 when a freight aircraft crashed on approach, dramatically killing 3 people.

8. Lukla Airport , Nepal

Lukla Airport , Nepal

Nepal’s Lukla Airport is located in the heart of the Himalayas. Positioned at a staggering 9000 feet, this is one of the highest airports in the world. Adventure-seeking travelers must brave Lukla Airport before an attempt to climb Mount Everest, as it’s the only airport that serves the area.

The short runway ends with a dramatic 2000 foot drop into the valley below and one end of the runway slopes upwards at a gradient of 12 degrees to help planes to stop. This means that if pilots calculate their landing just slightly wrong, the nose of the plane could hit the upwards slope or the whole aircraft could end up crashing down into the valley. To make it worse, the high altitude and extreme weather cause further challenges for pilots. In the mornings, it’s clear but turbulent. Then, in the afternoons, it becomes cloudy and visibility is compromised.

Touching down at Lukla is a perilous undertaking. The airport has a perfect storm of hazards, so it’s no wonder that it’s famous for being one of the most dangerous airports in the world. There are strict regulations as to who is allowed to fly here and inexperienced pilots must be accompanied to avoid disaster.

9. Barra International Airport, Scotland

Barra International Airport, Scotland

Fancy a break at the seaside? Well, if you fly into Barra Airport, you’ll already be at the beach as soon as you touch down. This Scottish airport is famous worldwide for being on a sandy bay only 5 meters above sea level. The runway is so close to the water that it becomes completely submerged when the tide is high.

Because of this, close attention must be paid to the weather conditions, and flights can only land at certain times of the day. Air traffic controllers at Barra International are truly at the mercy of the ocean.

The airport serves the island of Barra in the remote Outer Hebrides of Scotland, which has a population of less than 2000. The airport’s beach runway is also used by tourists and locals, who love to pick cockles and take walks along the shore. To ensure an incoming aircraft won’t hit them, they consult the ‘windsock’ – a fabric tube fixed to a pole that can show the direction and strength of the day’s winds.

10. San Diego International Airport, USA

San Diego International Airport, USA

San Diego’s is considered by some to be one of United States most dangerous airports due to its downtown location. The surrounding mountains and strong winds sometimes force nose-to-nose takeoffs and landings. The sky here is cluttered with planes, with up to 55 coming and going every hour. And with only one runway – that’s a problem.

The airspace is constantly stretched to maximum capacity, so heavy responsibility falls to air traffic controllers, who must precisely navigate each aircraft to ensure the safety of everyone on board. As well as congestion in the sky, pilots have had to contend with San Diego’s expansion on the ground. As the city grows, there are more tall buildings erected that cause a potential hazard to air crafts.

This airport was always an accident away, which did happen in 1978. A commuter flight carrying 128 passengers and 7 crew members collided with a small learner aircraft. They crashed to the ground, resulting in a devastating scene. Tragically, everyone on board, both planes and 7 people on the ground were killed in the worst aviation accident in California’s history. The incident brought scrutiny to the congested air space above San Diego and created a major change in aviation law. Because of the accident, it’s now illegal for small aircraft to fly into the paths of large commercial jets.

11. Courchevel Airport, France

Courchevel Airport, France

Courchevel Airport serves Courchevel, a ski resort in the French Alps. It’s in touching distance from the ski slopes and thousands of people use it every year on the way to their dream ski holiday. Excited for their winter break, they may not realise the risk they are taking by flying here.

Like many other airports in snowy mountainous locations, it’s particularly dangerous and challenging to navigate. With very limited flat land space high in the Alps, this small airport was built with an alarmingly short runway. It has a down gradient of 18.5%, causing it to be difficult to reach – and that’s on a good day. On a bad day, poor weather can make a landing here almost impossible. Even a small amount of fog renders the airport completely invisible to pilots. And to make it even harder, the airport has no lights or landing aids.

At a normal commercial airport, pilots can fly back round if a landing goes wrong and is too dangerous. But at Courchevel, the precarious position of the airport means there are no second chance landings here.

12. Wellington International Airport, New Zealand

Wellington International Airport, New Zealand

New Zealand is well known for being an incredible place to visit. It’s obvious why so many movies and TV shows use it as a location. Most famous are its phenomenal natural landscapes, which are featured in Lord Of The Rings and Game Of Thrones. However, a visit to Wellington, New Zealand means plucking up the courage to brave an ascent into Wellington International Airport…

Flying into Wellington is well known for being a nerve-wracking experience. At only 1936m, Wellingtons runway is so short that it limits the size of the planes that can use it, and the end of the runway leads straight into the sea. From the window, passengers see the rocky, mountainous landscape below them and wonder how on earth they will make it to the ground.

Considering the short runway, rocky landscape, and hair-raising weather conditions, there have been surprisingly few accidents here. However, In 1963, an aircraft overran the runway and ended up down an embankment on a nearby public road, and in a 1959 air show. Two small planes were damaged in incidents because of the high winds that day.

13. John Wayne Airport, USA

John Wayne Airport, USA

Being a passenger on a flight taking off from John Wayne Airport is sure to be an unforgettable experience, and maybe not in a good way.

The flight path out of the airport goes directly over the affluent California neighbourhood of Newport Beach.  Strict noise regulations were put in place in 1985 when residents complained about the noise. As part of these regulations, pilots have to perform a ’noise abatement’ takeoff. This involves pulling back the engines abruptly after takeoff, which would leave you feeling as if your days were about to be over if you didn’t know what was happening.

First, passengers feel their stomach drop as if they’re on a rollercoaster. Then, the aircraft becomes eerily quiet as the engine’s power is turned right down. The aircraft’s angle drops from ascending to almost level while still flying close to the ground. Even with a warning, passengers report feeling shaken and alarmed.  But they can soon relax once the plane goes beyond the noise protected area when usual takeoff is resumed and the plane climbs to cruising altitude.

14. Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Marteen

Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Marteen

The beach located meters away from Princess Juliana Airport’s runway attracts both sunbathers and aviation enthusiasts alike. The planes near the runway fly just meters above the tourists below, creating a spectacular sight for holidaymakers.

Separating the runway and the beach is nothing but a small highway and thin wire fence. A popular activity for thrill-seeking visitors is to hang on tightly to the fence and wait for the planes to take off or land. The powerful force of the plane’s jets produces winds of up to 100mph, almost blowing the tourists away as they have fun trying to cling on.

However exciting, this activity is not without its risks and this makes this airport notorious for its danger. In 2017, a 57-year-old woman sadly died from her injuries when she was blown into a retaining wall. And in 2012, a teenager was sent flying into a low concrete block and received a nasty gash to the head. Despite officials placing signs near the runway to warn the public of its risks, the beach remains a well-known tourist attraction around the world, and visitors are yet to be deterred from standing dangerously close to the aircraft’s jets.

Also Read: Buckle Up for a Thrilling Touch Down at the World’s 4th-Most Dangerous Airport

15. Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport, Portugal

Madeira International Airport

Madeira International Airport is known worldwide for being one of the world’s most dangerous. As it’s located between the mountains and the sea, its runway is exposed to unpredictable wind patterns. Powerful winds blow from both ends of the runway in opposite directions, causing dramatic wind shifts. And, if that wasn’t nerve-wracking enough for pilots, they also have to navigate a tricky 150-degree turn to land.

The original runway was a mere 5000 feet long. Until, in 1977, a plane carrying 164 people couldn’t stop in time, killing 130 passengers and crew in the devastating accident. Then, only 2 months later in December 1977, another plane descended too low and crashed into the sea, killing 36 people.

As a result of these tragedies, the runway was extended to measure 9000 feet. However, the danger doesn’t end there. Because of the airport’s location, the new section of runway had to be built out into the ocean. It lies on concrete supports, with a terrifying 90 feet drop either side awaiting any aircraft that overestimates the landing.

16. Congonhas Airport, Brazil

Congonhas Airport, Brazil

Sao Paulo is a vast and incredible place, so it requires 4 airports to serve it. One of these, in Congonhas airport, has one of the world’s riskiest landing strips. The danger comes from water accumulating on the runway, causing it to become slippery. It’s also extremely short – creating a deadly combination.

For a long time, locals feared that the risks here were bound to lead to a huge accident, and in the Summer of 2007, their fears were realised. It was an especially wet day when an Airbus carrying 187 people overran the slippery runway, crossed a major road, and crashed into an adjacent warehouse.

Everyone aboard the aircraft and 12 people on the ground died in the crash. To this day, it remains Brazil’s worst aviation accident. Only the day before, this tragedy was foreshadowed when two aircrafts skidded off the runway in smaller incidents. After the crash, efforts were made to make the airport safer, including adding drainage grooves and restricting the size of aircraft allowed to use the runway.

17. Sea Ice Runway, Antarctica

Sea Ice Runway, Antarctica

You might be surprised to discover that there are airports in places as remote as Antarctica. The frozen land records the lowest temperatures on earth, averaging -49°C in winter. Close to McMurdo Station, the Sea Ice Runway airport is used by scientists and as a US military base.

The 2.5-mile airport runway is made entirely of ice. Carved into the sea ice off Ross Island annually (the airport is shut in warmer months when the ice begins to weaken). It’s extremely tricky to land here as pilots must avoid a heavy landing and stationary aircraft should be monitored closely to ensure they do not sink more than 10 inches into the ice. Like this wasn’t enough trouble, Antarctica has 6 months of 24-hour darkness during the winter and because there are no lights here, pilots must land in complete obscurity.

Only highly trained military pilots land here, so thankfully the Sea Ice Runway hasn’t seen many accidents despite its dangers. However, in 1960, a United States Navy crashed while attempting to land on the ice. The men on board were injured, but luckily nobody was killed. The aircraft skidded into the water and was allowed to sink, its ghost still haunting Antarctica freezing waters.

18. Kansai International Airport, Japan

Kansai International Airport, Japan

With over 2.6 million people living there, the Japanese city of Osaka is huge. To avoid taking up land space, Kansai International Airport was built on its very own artificial island. Surrounded by the ocean, this airport is not for anybody with a fear of deep waters.

The airport was built by Italian architect Renzo Piano and is an incredible fete of engineering, but doesn’t come without its risks. Situated 17 feet above sea level, the danger here comes from unpredictable weather conditions. The area is prone to cyclones and earthquakes. And on a tiny island in the middle of the sea, that’s not good news. In the event of a Tsunami, the airport would be destroyed and many lives would be lost.

If you like the idea of seeing Kansai International for yourself, you may be running out of time. Scientists predict that the airport could become completely submerged in the next fifty years due to rising sea levels.

Also Read – Japan: 25 Astounding Places You Must Visit

19. Eagle County Airport, USA

Eagle County Airport, USA

The flying conditions around Eagle Valley Airport couldn’t get any more challenging for the pilots who brave them. Serving the Vail Mountain Ski Resort, mountains surround this airport. The runway lies in a valley, so pilots must go over the mountains and make a quick descent – dipping over the peaks and down to the runway far below.

The weather here can be extreme. Conditions can change quickly while the aircraft is already partway into their approach. It’s not uncommon snowstorm to surround an aircraft when already halfway through its descent. An underestimated danger here is the altitude. Aircraft lose 3% horsepower for every 1000ft high they go, and up in the Colorado mountains that becomes a significant issue.

Overall, planes are far less powerful at high altitudes where the air is thinner. Pilots must increase their speed as they take off to make sure they make it high enough and need a lot more runway and groundspeed than usual. Sadly, many pilots over the years have lost their lives flying in or out of Eagle Valley. Amongst them is a 65-year-old man, who’s small aircraft crashed in 2015 when he lost control of it in harsh windy conditions.

20. LaGuardia Airport, USA

LaGuardia Airport, USA

LaGuardia Airport is dangerous because of its location in the heart of New York City. Central city airports like this one carry the possibility of thousands of casualties in the event of an accident because of their proximity to buildings, highways, and people on the ground.

New York is famous for its Skyscrapers, which pilots flying in or out of LaGuardia must dodge to avoid disaster. They have to maneuver their aircraft around the Manhattan Skyline in tight turns at low altitude, the most nerve-wracking being a delicate 180-degree turn around City Field. Meanwhile, they need to be careful to avoid the other aircraft in the sky, which is packed with planes in the USA’s busiest airport system.

Tom Hanks fans may have seen the movie Sully, which is based on LaGuardia’s most famous incident. In 2009, a US Airways flight departed LaGuardia Airport headed for North Carolina. Only a few minutes in, the plane hit a flock of birds and lost both of its engines. A plane losing its engines is dangerous enough without factoring in that just below was a landscape full of skyscrapers and millions of people going about their lives. Miraculously, everybody onboard survived thanks to the pilot’s remarkable emergency landing.

Also Read: 15 Most Dangerous Bridges in the World