The 20 most dangerous airports in the world

When you need to travel, most of the time, your choice of transportation will be an airplane. Do you know all the airports below? They are dangerous, intimidating airports.

1. Gustaf III Airport, St. Barths

The beautiful island of St. Barths is loved by the rich and famous, Simon Covey Celebrities such as Simon Cowell and Jon Bon Jovi have vacationed here. This Caribbean island is home to stunning beaches, luxury hotels, designer shops, and one of the most dangerous airports on the planet.

It has a very short runway of only 2,100 feet, with a daunting 150-foot hill at one end and a popular beach at the other. Due to the short runway, the airport only serves small aircraft - most can carry fewer than 20 passengers. Tourists were warned not to lounge on the beach just meters from the runway, but the warnings were ignored and departing planes often flew over the heads of sunbathers.

The airport is surrounded by mountains, making landing more difficult and forcing pilots to descend quickly. In 2013, a light aircraft crashed into a surrounding mountain while trying to make a difficult landing.

2. Gibraltar International Airport, UK

The danger of Gibraltar Airport lies in its unusual location. The island of Gibraltar encountered extremely bad weather and strong winds, and the pilots who landed in Gibraltar had to ensure that the passengers arrived safely. When the infamous Levantine winds hit the island, huge smoke-like clouds formed, and southwesterly winds caused severe downdrafts and severe turbulence. The conditions here are so harsh that it can't even be practiced in a flight simulator.

Britain and Spain disputed this territory. Although the UK administers Gibraltar, Spain technically "owns" some airspace near Gibraltar. Therefore, in addition to the terrifying winds, pilots must perform complex maneuvers to avoid the "no-fly zone" set by Spain.

If that wasn't enough, a four-lane highway could run right through the middle of the runway. Staff will move the barriers enough to allow the plane to pass, but that doesn't stop tourists on foot from stopping in the middle of the plane to take photos. Visitors to the island often unknowingly put themselves at risk because they do not realize they are standing on an active runway.

3. Gisborne Airport, New Zealand

Gisborne, New Zealand, is the first city in the world to see the sun. The country's easternmost tip is known for its beautiful coastline, densely forested mountain parks, surfing, fishing and as a center for wine and agriculture. Visitors come from all over to enjoy everything Gisborne has to offer, and some come just for the thrill of flying into a crazy airport...

What's so great about it? Gisborne Airport has A railroad that intersects the runway. To avoid collisions between planes and passing trains, rail and airport schedules must be coordinated extremely carefully. Trains and planes are often just meters apart, making it a jaw-dropping sight for passengers.

Managing the two areas has been tricky for staff, with trains sometimes being forced to stop to make way for planes as they land. Surprisingly, there haven't been any serious accidents in Gisborne so far.

4. Paro Airport, Bhutan

At 1.5 miles above sea level, this airport is so extreme that only 8 pilots in the world can fly here. Bhutan Airport is nestled in the Himalayas and only the brave and adventurous go there.

Locals who live in houses on the hillside have become accustomed to planes flying uncomfortably close to their roofs as they pass over the top of the mountain on their way down. The mountains surrounding the airport reach heights of 18,000 feet, so pilots can only see a brief landing strip as they approach the airport. Worst of all, there was no radar system to guide the plane into the airport. Pilots must rely on their skills to land completely manually.

Passengers landing here need to have strong stomachs. The track is located in a valley that acts like a wind tunnel on windy days, causing stomach-churning turbulence.

5. Narsarsuaq Airport, Greenland

Narsarsuaq Airport was originally built as an air force base during World War II, but the surrounding areas It is small and now passengers mainly use it as a transfer point.

The scariest thing about Nassarsuaq Airport is its frozen runway. Greenland is covered by ice caps and winter temperatures can reach as low as minus 21 C.

Landing in this icy area requires a lot of experience and a lot of courage. In addition to ice and frost, there are unpredictable winds and fog, which can disrupt pilot visibility as the plane taxis to a stop along the ice.

In addition to the severe weather conditions, there are also worrisome active volcanoes near the runway. They routinely spit out ash, making landings more difficult. The last accident occurred in 2001, when a cargo plane crashed on landing, killing three people.

6. Lukla Airport, Nepal

Nepal’s Lukla Airport is located in the center of the Himalayas. With an altitude of 9,000 feet, it is one of the highest airports in the world. Travelers who want to climb Mount Everest must first go to Lukla Airport as it is the only airport in the region.

The short runway ends in a 2,000-foot-deep valley, and one end of the runway slopes upward at a 12-degree slope to help stop aircraft. This means that if the pilot calculates a landing just slightly wrong, the plane's nose could crash into an upward slope, or the entire plane could crash in a valley. To make matters worse, high altitude and extreme weather pose further challenges for pilots. In the morning, the weather was clear but chaotic. Then, in the afternoon, the weather turned cloudy and visibility decreased.

Landing at Lukla was a dangerous mission. This airport is filled with dangers, so it’s no surprise that it’s known as one of the most dangerous airports in the world. There are strict rules on who can fly here, and less experienced pilots must be accompanied to avoid disaster.

7. Barra International Airport, Scotland

Want to take a break by the beach? If you fly to Barra Airport, you will already be at the beach as soon as you land. On. This Scottish airport is world-famous for being located in a sandy bay just 5 meters above sea level. The runway is very close to the water and will be completely submerged once the tide comes in.

Therefore, weather conditions must be closely monitored and flights can only land at certain times of the day. Air traffic controllers at Barra International Airport are completely at the mercy of the ocean.

The airport serves the remote island of Barra in Scotland's Outer Hebrides, which has a population of less than 2,000 people. The airport's beach runway is also used by tourists and locals who enjoy picking seashells and walking along the shore. To ensure that incoming planes don't hit them, they refer to a "windsock" - a fabric tube attached to a pole that shows the direction and strength of the wind that day.

8. San Diego International Airport, United States

Due to its location in the city center, San Diego Airport is considered one of the most dangerous airports in the United States. Surrounding mountains and strong winds sometimes force nose-to-nose takeoffs and landings. The skies here are filled with airplanes, with up to 55 planes flying around every hour. And there’s only one runway, which is a problem.

Airspace is constantly reaching maximum capacity, placing a heavy responsibility on air traffic controllers who must navigate each aircraft with precision to ensure the safety of everyone on board. In addition to congestion in the air, pilots must also contend with San Diego's expansion on the ground. As cities develop, more and more high-rise buildings are rising, posing potential dangers to aircraft.

There are always accidents at this airport, and there was one in 1978. A commuter flight carrying 128 passengers and seven crew members collided with a small aircraft. They hit the ground, creating a devastating scene. Tragically, everyone on board, the aircraft and seven people on the ground were killed in the worst aviation accident in California history. The incident sparked a review of congested airspace over San Diego and led to major changes in aviation law. As a result of this accident, it is now illegal for small aircraft to enter the flight paths of larger commercial aircraft.

9. Courchevel Airport, France

Courchevel Airport serves the ski resort of Courchevel in the French Alps. It's so close to the ski slopes that thousands of people use it every year on their way to their dream ski vacation. In the excitement of winter vacation, they may not realize the risks they take by flying here.

Like other airports in snowy mountainous areas, it is particularly dangerous and challenging to navigate. High in the Alps, this small airport has very limited flat space and its runway is surprisingly short. It has an 18.5% descending grade, which makes it difficult to reach - and that's on a good day. In bad weather, bad weather makes landing here almost impossible. Even with a little fog, the airport is completely invisible to the pilot. To make matters worse, the airport had no lights or landing aids.

At a normal commercial airport, if a landing goes wrong and becomes too dangerous, pilots can turn back. But in Courchevel, the airport's dangerous location means there's no chance of a second landing.

10. Wellington International Airport, New Zealand

New Zealand is a well-known tourist destination. It's obvious why so many movies and TV shows use it as a filming location. It is best known for its extraordinary natural landscape, a feature of The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. However, getting to Wellington, New Zealand means mustering up the courage to board Wellington International Airport…

Flying to Wellington can be very nerve-wracking. Wellington's runway is only 1936 meters, it is so short that it limits the size of the aircraft that can use it, and the end of the runway leads directly to the sea. Through the windows, passengers can see the rocky mountain scenery below and wonder how on earth they reached the ground.

Considering the short runway, rocky terrain and hair-raising weather conditions, accidents here are surprisingly rare. However, in 1963, a plane overran the runway and eventually went down an embankment on a nearby highway. And during an air show in 1959, two small aircraft were damaged in an accident due to strong winds that day.

11. John Wayne Airport, United States

Being a passenger on a flight from John Wayne Airport will definitely be an unforgettable experience, maybe Not a nice experience.

Flights from the airport run directly through the affluent Newport Beach, California community. In 1985, when residents complained about the noise, the government implemented strict noise regulations. As part of these regulations, pilots must perform "noise-attenuated" takeoffs. This involves pulling the engine back suddenly after takeoff, which can make you feel like your day is coming to an end if you don't know what's going on.

First, passengers will feel their stomachs descending, like on a roller coaster. The plane then became unusually quiet as the engine's power was turned down. The angle of the aircraft drops from up to almost horizontal while still flying close to the ground. Even with the warnings, passengers said they were shocked and panicked. But once the plane passes the noise protection zone, resumes normal takeoff and climbs to cruising altitude, they can quickly relax.

12. Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten

The beach a few meters away from the runway of Princess Juliana Airport attracts sunbathers and aviation enthusiasts who. As the planes approach the runway, they fly just a few meters above the tourists below, creating a spectacular sight for holidaymakers.

There is only a small highway and a thin barbed wire fence between the runway and the beach. A popular activity for thrill-seekers is to cling to the railing while waiting for a plane to take off or land. The sheer force of the plane's jets creates wind speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, nearly blowing visitors away as they enjoy trying to catch it.

However exciting, this activity is not without risks, making this airport notorious for its dangers. In 2017, a 57-year-old woman tragically died from injuries sustained when she was blown into a retaining wall. In 2012, a teenager was hit on a low concrete block and suffered severe cuts to his head. Although officials have placed signs near the runway warning the public of the danger, the beach remains a world-famous tourist attraction and tourists have not been stopped from standing dangerously close to planes' jets.

13. Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport, Portugal

On March 29, 2017, Madeira Airport in Portugal was officially renamed Cristiano Ronaldo · Ronaldo Airport. Madeira International Airport is one of the most dangerous airports in the world. Because of its location between mountains and the sea, its runways are exposed to unpredictable wind patterns. Strong winds blew in opposite directions from both ends of the runway, causing dramatic changes in wind direction. And, if that wasn't nerve-wracking enough for the pilots, they also had to negotiate a tricky 150-degree turn to land.

The original runway was only 5,000 feet long. Until 1977, a plane carrying 164 people failed to stop in time, resulting in the death of 130 passengers and crew in this devastating accident. Then, just two 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 lengthened to 9,000 feet. However, the danger does not end there.

Due to the location of the airport, the new runway had to be built in the sea. It rests on concrete, with a 90-foot drop on either side, waiting for any overestimated landing aircraft.

14. Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport, Brazil

Sao Paulo is a huge and incredible place, so it needs 4 airports to serve it . One of the most dangerous runways in the world is located at Congonhas Airport. The danger comes from water accumulating on the runway, causing it to become slippery. It's also very short, creating a deadly combination.

Locals have long worried that the risks here would lead to a huge accident. In the summer of 2007, their fears became a reality. It was a particularly wet day when an Airbus plane carrying 187 passengers overshot the slippery runway, crossed a main road and crashed into a neighboring warehouse.

Everyone on the plane and 12 people on the ground died in the crash. To this day, this remains Brazil's worst aviation accident. The tragedy was foreshadowed just the day before when two planes skidded off the runway in minor incidents. After the crash, government efforts were made to make the airport safer, including adding drainage ditches and limiting the size of the runway.

15. Antarctic Sea Ice Runway

You may be surprised to find that there is an airport in a remote place like Antarctica. This frozen land records some of the lowest temperatures on Earth, with average winter temperatures of -49 C. The sea-ice runway airport near McMurdo Station is used by scientists and is also a U.S. military base.

The 2.5-mile-long airport runway is made entirely of ice. Formation begins each year on sea ice near Ross Island (the airport closes during the warmer months when the ice begins to weaken). Landing here is tricky because pilots must avoid heavy landings and stationary aircraft should be closely monitored to ensure they don't sink more than 10 inches into the ice. As if that wasn't troublesome enough, Antarctica has six months of 24-hour darkness in the winter, and since there are no lights, pilots must land in total darkness.

Only highly trained military pilots land here, so thankfully, despite the dangers, the sea-ice runway doesn't suffer too many incidents. However, in 1960, a U.S. Navy aircraft crashed while trying to land on the ice. People on board were injured, but fortunately no one died.

16. Kansai International Airport, Japan

Osaka, a Japanese city with a population of more than 2.6 million, is very large. To avoid taking up land space, Kansai International Airport was built on its own artificial island. This airport is surrounded by sea and is not suitable for those who are afraid of deep water.

Built by Italian architect Renzo Piano, the airport is an incredible feat of engineering, but it also comes with risks. At 17 feet above sea level, danger comes from unpredictable weather conditions. The area is prone to hurricanes and earthquakes. On an island in the middle of the ocean, that's not good news. If a tsunami occurs, the airport will be destroyed and many people will lose their lives.

If you like the idea of ??seeing Kansai International on your own, you may not have time. Scientists predict that the airport could be completely submerged within the next 50 years due to rising sea levels.

17. Eagle County Airport, United States

For intrepid pilots, flying conditions around Eagle Valley Airport are no longer challenging. Serving Vail Mountain Ski Resort, mountains surround this airport. The runway is in a valley, so pilots must climb over mountains and descend quickly—from mountain peaks to well below the runway.

The weather here can sometimes be extreme. Conditions can change quickly during an aircraft's approach. It's not unusual to be surrounded by a blizzard while the plane is halfway down. An underestimated danger here is altitude. An airplane loses 3 percent of its horsepower for every 1,000 feet it travels, which is a big problem in the Colorado mountains.

In general, aircraft are much less powerful at high altitudes where the air is thinner. Pilots must increase their speed when taking off to ensure they are flying high enough, requiring a longer runway and ground speed than usual. Sadly, many pilots have lost their lives over the years while flying into or out of Eagle Valley. Among them was a 65-year-old man whose small plane crashed in 2015 when he lost control in severe windy conditions.

18. LaGuardia Airport, United States

LaGuardia Airport is dangerous because it is located in the center of New York City.

Midtown airports like this one can cause 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 must avoid when flying into or out of LaGuardia Airport to avoid disaster. They had to maneuver the plane into sharp turns at low altitude over the Manhattan skyline, the most nerve-wracking being a delicate 180-degree turn at City Field. At the same time, they need to be careful to avoid other planes in the sky that are packed with other planes at the busiest airport system in the United States.

Tom Hanks fans may have seen the movie Sully, which was based on LaGuardia's most famous incident of. In 2009, a US Airways flight flew from LaGuardia Airport to North Carolina. Just minutes later, the plane hit a flock of birds and lost both engines. A plane without an engine is dangerous enough, not to mention there are skyscrapers everywhere below the plane and millions of people are busy. Miraculously, everyone on board survived thanks to the pilot's outstanding emergency landing.

19. Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport (Kai Tak Airport)

Kai Tak Airport may be the most dangerous airport in history. It was the Hong Kong International Airport from 1925 to 1998. It was so dangerous that it was closed in 1998 to avoid further accidents. In its day, it was known among pilots for its extremely difficult landings.

One of the multiple dangers facing the Kai Tak Nuclear Power Station is the lack of a "rescue" area. At most airports, pilots have a last chance to abandon the descent around 500 feet and return to the ground for a second attempt. But at Kai Tak, pilots have to reach an altitude of about 300 feet to keep the wings level, which means landing there is dangerous and almost impossible to save if something goes wrong.

During the 63 years of operation of Kai Tak Airport, 14 major aviation accidents occurred. The deadliest incident occurred in 1965, when a U.S. military plane crashed into a sea wall shortly after takeoff. The plane crashed into the water, killing 71 people. The airport's most notorious accident occurred in 1993, when a commercial plane overran the runway while trying to land in high winds. Although the approach was unstable, the pilot was unable to make a second attempt. The plane skidded across the runway and ended up submerged in the waters of Hong Kong's harbor.

20. Toncontin International Airport, Honduras

At Toncontin International Airport, even the most experienced pilots admit to feeling a little scared about landing. Landing at an airport is so dangerous that pilots need special training before attempting a landing. It has the shortest runway of any airport in the world serving commercial flights. Due to the surrounding terrain, approaching aircraft must descend quickly before encountering the horribly short runway, which ends with a 65-foot cliff waiting for any aircraft to fly over. Pilots who land here must land in the right spot or risk their lives.

Pilots are not afraid of this airport for no reason. In 2008, a horrific landing attempt failed when a pilot failed to land on his first attempt. After informing the passenger that he would have to make a second attempt, the situation took a dire turn when strong winds from the south caused the plane to increase its ground speed on landing.

The plane failed to stop in time and crashed off a cliff, landing on a busy street below. Three people on board and two on the ground died in the accident. Before that, in 1998, another plane suffered the same fate, killing three people.

Have you ever landed at these dangerous airports?