- 2 days ago
A deadly and terrifying airport landing caught on camera shows the extreme danger pilots face during landing in difficult conditions.
This video captures a plane attempting to land at one of the world’s most dangerous airports, battling strong winds, narrow runways, and extreme weather. The pilot’s skill and experience helped avoid a major disaster.
Aviation experts consider this airport among the most challenging in the world. Such risky landings highlight the bravery of pilots and the importance of flight safety.
Watch the full video to see how the aircraft managed a safe landing against all odds.
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This video captures a plane attempting to land at one of the world’s most dangerous airports, battling strong winds, narrow runways, and extreme weather. The pilot’s skill and experience helped avoid a major disaster.
Aviation experts consider this airport among the most challenging in the world. Such risky landings highlight the bravery of pilots and the importance of flight safety.
Watch the full video to see how the aircraft managed a safe landing against all odds.
✈️ Aviation News | Dangerous Airports | Emergency Landings | Pilot Skills
🔔 Subscribe for more aviation footage, airport landings, and flight safety videos.
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NewsTranscript
00:00If you have a fear of flying, the following statistic might put your mind at ease.
00:06The actual odds of dying on a commercial flight is only about 1 in 29.4 million.
00:12However, not all airports are created equal.
00:15Treacherous approaches, narrow and short landing strips, inclement and unpredictable weather.
00:21Some airports are notoriously more dangerous than others.
00:24So buckle up for today's video, because here are the top 15 most dangerous airports in the world.
00:31Number 15. Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Martin
00:35If you want to see a plane coming in up close, then head over to the Maho Beach at Simpson Bay Lagoon in St. Martin.
00:42The Princess Juliana International Airport is painfully close to the beach,
00:47and planes are horrifically close to beachgoers as they approach the landing strip.
00:51The planes pass only 30 to 60 feet above the beach, and while watching the planes come in is a big tourist attraction,
00:57the low altitude of the planes can pose risks to beachgoers, and there are signs warning people of the dangers.
01:03Massive jet blasts from the plane have been known to knock over onlookers, injuring them in the process.
01:09The airport is very busy, serving upwards of 1.8 million people annually.
01:14In fact, it's one of the busiest airports in the area, and is served by more than 30 different airlines.
01:19Despite this, the Princess Juliana International Airport has been called the 4th most dangerous airport in the world by History Channel show Extreme Airports.
01:30Number 14. Paro International Airport, Bhutan
01:33Nestled in the Himalayas in a deep valley, the Paro International Airport sits at 7,364 feet above sea level, and it's the only international airport in Bhutan.
01:45But this little airport has its hazards, so much so that less than two dozen pilots are actually certified to land there.
01:51The airport is surrounded by high cliffs, and to successfully land, pilots must maneuver their planes at a 45-degree angle so they can avoid the homes that sit along the clifftops.
02:00Flights are only allowed to run during the day, and the aircrafts they fly must feature high maneuverability, a high service ceiling, and a high rate of climb.
02:09There's only one runway, and it's only 7,000 feet long, so Paro International Airport is widely regarded as one of the most challenging airports in the world.
02:19Number 13. Barra International Airport, Scotland
02:22Barra International Airport in Scotland is one of the most unique airports in the world.
02:28It has three sand runways, which comes in varying length from 2,200 to 2,700 feet.
02:34But with uniqueness comes danger at this airport, because the landings are located directly on the beach.
02:41Landings are only available at low tide, and the runways lack the characteristic markers of most runways.
02:47Instead, the runways are marked by small sticks.
02:50The airport opened in 1936, and today sees more than 10,000 people land and leave.
02:55And while unmarked, sandy landings are difficult enough.
02:59The airport has another unusual danger.
03:02Seals.
03:03Seals often come out of the water and onto the beach, and because they can't tell the difference between a plain beach and the runways,
03:09the airport employs special workers to get them out of the way and bring them back to sea.
03:15Number 12. Wellington International Airport, New Zealand
03:19It is a bit surprising that the third busiest airport in New Zealand is also one of the most dangerous.
03:26Wellington International Airport handles more than 6 million passengers per year.
03:31The airport borders the Wellington Harbor to the north and the Cook Strait to the south.
03:34It has a single runway that's 6,827 feet long, and a reputation for turbulent landings, because the Cook Strait creates very strong winds.
03:44In 2007, the winds were so strong that they overturned a Cessna 172, and on February 17th, 1963, Vickers 807 Viscount from the National Airways Corporation
03:55completely overran the runway and wound up down an embankment beside a public road.
04:01With a history of crashes like that, it's no wonder that this airport is considered dangerous.
04:07Number 11. Narsaswak Airport, Greenland
04:10Narsaswak Airport in Greenland only receives about 25,000 people per year, and it was originally built by the Ministry of Defense in the United States in 1941.
04:20Today, the airport is a hub of transportation.
04:22It's just a short runway at only 6,000 feet, and the large number of fjords coupled with massive wind gusts make landings very difficult and risky for pilots.
04:32However, if you want to go to southern Greenland to see the sweeping mountains and the iconic fjords,
04:36then you might have to risk a flight here, because this airport is the only international airport in southern Greenland.
04:42The airport's often used by tourists as a transit point, and there aren't really any other options,
04:48so tourists to southern Greenland have no choice but to buckle up, cross their fingers,
04:52and stomach a sometimes very turbulent landing at this international airport.
04:57Number 10. Courchevel Airport, France
05:01For those who dream of skiing in the French Alps, you might first find yourself having to stomach a flight into one of the most dangerous airports in Europe.
05:09Courchevel Airport serves skiing resorts in the French Alps, and as such, flying into this airport has its risks.
05:15For starters, the airport has a short runway of just 1,762 feet, as well as a steep gradient of 18.6%.
05:23Next, the airport's surrounded by mountains.
05:26Because of this, the airport doesn't have go-around procedures for landings,
05:30so there's no changing of minds once the plane has started to descend.
05:34The airport also doesn't have any instrument approach procedures, nor lighting aids,
05:38so when the fog or low clouds roll in, landing here is almost next to impossible.
05:42The airport mostly sees small fixed-wing aircrafts and helicopters,
05:47and the ridiculously difficult approach and the steep upward-sloping runway
05:51has earned this airport a reputation for dangerous landings.
05:55Number 9. Congajas Airport, Brazil
05:59Congajas Airport in Brazil has made many headlines over the years
06:03because it's seen an obscene amount of crashes.
06:06The airport's situated in the very center of Sao Paulo,
06:09and the airport's known for having very slippery runways.
06:12The airport has two runways, one at 4,708 feet, and one at 6,364 feet long.
06:19But the airport has a very bad drainage system,
06:22which makes the runways a bit of a hazard for pilots.
06:25In fact, the runways at Congajas are often called the most dangerous runways in the world.
06:30In 1941, a plane crashed here when a pilot couldn't overcome the mountain massive.
06:35Thirteen people died in that crash,
06:37and only three years later in 1945, thick fog caused another crash at the airport,
06:41with 16 passengers perishing in that one.
06:45But the worst crash happened in July of 2007,
06:47when an Airbus from TAM Airlines lost control and flew off the runway and into the storage area.
06:53There were 187 passengers and crew on board, and all of them lost their lives,
06:58as well as 12 employees that were working in the warehouse building.
07:01You likely don't have to worry about the dangers of this next airport,
07:10unless you plan on visiting Antarctica in the near future.
07:13Now, Antarctica is notorious for being inhospitable,
07:16and holds the record for the coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth,
07:19minus 129 degrees Fahrenheit in 1983.
07:23So it's no surprise that the land of ice and cold has a pretty dangerous airport.
07:27Ice runway only operates in the summer,
07:30and because during the winter it's just too dark, too cold, and too stormy for anything to safely land there.
07:36Even in the summer months, when the airport begins accepting flights,
07:39there are a plethora of dangers for pilots.
07:42Unpredictable weather, hurricane winds, blowing snow, and ice all pose a threat to pilots attempting to land here.
07:49And because the ice runway is very close to McMurdo Station,
07:52it's the principal runway for the United States Antarctic program.
07:55And although it's very dangerous, scientists who want to go there have no choice but to hop aboard and take their chances.
08:037. Kansai International Airport, Japan
08:06At first glance, the Kansai International Airport in Japan looks like a pretty spectacular airport.
08:13The entire thing is surrounded by water and sits on an artificial island.
08:17It first opened in 1994 after completion of this massive infrastructure project.
08:22This airport has two runways and two terminals, the North and South Terminal.
08:27The South Terminal is the busiest, serving more than 12 million people a year, which is pretty impressive.
08:32And given the fact that the airport is built on an artificial island, the length of the runways is also pretty impressive.
08:38One is 11,482 feet long, and the other is 13,123 feet long.
08:44But landing on an artificial island in the middle of the water doesn't come without its dangers.
08:50Only experienced pilots are allowed to land on this man-made island.
08:54And all pilots who fly into this airport are given special training because the airport is prone to cyclones and earthquakes, as well as high winds.
09:02Number 6. Wancho-i-Yuraskan, Saba
09:06Wancho-i-Yuraskan Airport is widely regarded as the smallest commercial airport in the world and the world's shortest commercial landing strip.
09:15It has just one runway with a length of 1,312 feet.
09:21The airport is situated on the island of Saba on the Dutch Caribbean side and was named after the Aruban minister Wancho-Yuraskan.
09:28The airport saw its first flights in September of 1963, and since then it's been regarded as one of the most dangerous airports in the world.
09:36This airport has high hills on one side, and on both ends of the runway are steep cliffs that drop off directly into the ocean.
09:44The airport doesn't allow any jet traffic.
09:46The landing strip is closed to jets, so if you want to visit this airport, you'll need to travel on a smaller plane, like a BN-2 Islander, for example.
09:54Wyn Air is the only airline that has regularly scheduled flights to Wancho-i-Yuraskan.
10:00There have not, as of yet, been any major incidents at this place, but given the airport's precarious location, the airport is not exactly the easiest or safest place to land.
10:11Number 5. Gibraltar Airport
10:14To say that the Gibraltar airport is a little odd would be a bit of an understatement.
10:21Why? Because the airport literally cuts through the city center of Gibraltar.
10:25Winston Churchill Avenue, which is a very busy street, intersects the runway.
10:31Pictures of this unusual airport show airplanes crossing the street just as a car would.
10:35And while this makes it look a little on the humorous side, and begs the question why the runway was built to cross a road in the first place,
10:42Gibraltar Airport is not a laughing matter.
10:45As the only airport in the world whose runway crosses right through a road, it has a number of inherent dangers.
10:52For example, the road has to be closed every time a plane takes off or lands, so the plane doesn't run over pedestrians and cars.
10:59The airport was once used by the British Navy as an emergency airfield.
11:03Today, though, the airport is used by both tourists and for cargo.
11:06The length of the runway is about 6,000 feet, and the ground crew have to work very closely with pilots to avoid accidents on this remarkable runway.
11:14This airport has miraculously been fairly free from incident, but clearly the potential is there for a pretty disastrous outcome should an accident happen,
11:23which is why the Gibraltar airport is often called the most dangerous airport in Europe.
11:29Number 4. Svalbard Airport, Norway
11:32Behold the Svalbard Airport, a feat of engineering mastery, and a slippery one.
11:39This stunning airport, located in Norway's Arctic archipelago Svalbard, features a runway that's built directly onto the ice.
11:47This runway is built on the permafrost.
11:49Sounds dangerous? Yeah, it is.
11:51But not just because the planes have to land on ice.
11:53The Svalbard Airport also sees a lot of inclement weather conditions, which can cause visibility problems.
12:00Plus, the airport's fairly close to the magnetic north, which can cause navigational problems, too, for pilots brave enough to land here.
12:07As such, this airport was home to the worst accident in the history of Norway when a plane crashed into a mountain.
12:13The accident happened in 1996, and 141 passengers and crew lost their lives in the crash.
12:20Furthermore, there's reason to believe that this airport may become even more dangerous in the coming years, as global warming threatens the integrity of the runway.
12:28In fact, some experts believe that it's only a matter of time until this unique and icy airport has closed down for good.
12:34Number 3. Madeira Airport, Portugal
12:39If the sparkling blue waters and stunning beaches of Madeira Island in Portugal are calling to you, you're not alone.
12:47This island paradise welcomes more than 5,000 tourists per year.
12:51But passengers flying into Madeira Airport in Portugal should be aware that the airport faces two very real safety threats.
12:58The first is the actual runway, and the second is weather conditions.
13:02The airport's on a cliff, so there's only so much land for the runway.
13:06The runway's both very narrow and very short.
13:09Too short, which is why in 1977 a horrific crash took place at Madeira Airport.
13:14November 19, 1977, a Boeing 727-282 overran a short runway and crashed onto the beach.
13:21The crash caused the plane to explode.
13:23There were 164 passengers on board, and tragically, 131 of them lost their lives.
13:29The runway was extended after this bad accident.
13:33But because there wasn't enough land, pillars were added to support the extension.
13:37And while the runway is now a bit longer than before, the short and narrow runway is not the only problem here.
13:43Officially called Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport, this airport is still infamously dangerous due to strong winds.
13:51Winds are a recurrent problem here.
13:53In fact, the winds are so strong that only very experienced pilots are allowed to land.
13:57And the worst part of it, Madeira Airport is basically the only way for international travelers to visit here, save for a ferry that doesn't always run.
14:06Number 2.
14:07Tocantin International Airport, Honduras
14:10For those of you who dream of visiting the beautiful country of Honduras, you might want to think twice.
14:17The Tocantin International Airport has seen so many deadly crashes over the years that anyone flying there is taking an enormous risk.
14:24The airport is located in the capital of Honduras, Tegucigalpa, and this airport is known for its difficult approach.
14:31In fact, this airport is so treacherous that it has been ranked as the second most dangerous airport in the world.
14:37First off, the airport is surrounded by high mountains, which makes the approach difficult for even the most experienced of pilots.
14:44Secondly, the airport is also surrounded by residential neighborhoods.
14:47So, should something go wrong, the outcome could be catastrophic.
14:51And thirdly, to access the runway, pilots have to execute a 45-degree turn just minutes before touching down on the runway.
14:58Then, the pilots are faced with a very steep approach, so they need more runway than that at an average sea-level airport.
15:05They don't really have it, though.
15:07The runway is only 2,012 meters long, so the airport sees a lot of accidents.
15:11In 1989, a Boeing commercial plane crashed into the mountainside while approaching.
15:17132 people were killed.
15:19On May 22, 2018, a plane went off the runway and collapsed right over a boulevard.
15:24And these are only two examples, as the airport has seen at least 10 accidents since 1989.
15:29In fact, when it comes to crashes, it seems that Takantin Airport wins the crown.
15:34Although, that's not really a crown any airport would want to win.
15:38Treacherous mountains, dramatic turns, a short runway, a steep approach.
15:42The airport has all the recipes for disaster, which is why it consistently ranks really high on the dangerous airport list.
15:50Number 1.
15:51Tenzing Hillary Airport, Nepal
15:53The Tenzing Hillary Airport is so dangerous that pilots require special training to fly there.
16:00It's got a very short runway at only 1,729 feet, and it's notorious for its unpredictable weather, such as thick fog or heavy snow.
16:09The airport's situated on the edge of a cliff 9,000 feet above sea level.
16:14Pilots who are brave enough to tackle this airport must have a few credentials under their belt first.
16:19They must have at least one year of flying experience in Nepal.
16:23They must have more than 100 short takeoffs and landings.
16:26And they must have over 10,000 successful flights to LUCLA with a highly trained certified instructor.
16:3210,000.
16:33If the sheer amount of training needed to navigate this airport doesn't speak to just how dangerous it is, then let's talk actual crashes.
16:41The airport has seen its fair share of plane crashes over the years, but two recent ones in particular made headlines.
16:47In 2018, 18 people were killed from an unsuccessful landing, and in 2019, a plane veered from the runway and collided with a helicopter, killing three people.
16:57So why would anyone fly to or from this airport given its hazards?
17:01Tenzing Hillary Airport, or LUCLA Airport as it's sometimes called, brings passengers to the small town of LUCLA, which is a popular place to start the ever-so-famous Mount Everest climb.
17:12So for some, the risk is worth the reward.
17:16But for most, the fact is that this airport is consistently called the most dangerous in the world.
17:22That's enough to make them avoid it.
17:24It's also enough for me to give the Tenzing Hillary Airport the winning spot on this list of 15 most dangerous airports in the world.
17:30Although the top spot on this list doesn't exactly come with bragging rights.
17:35Watch our binge-watching playlist if you'd like to watch all of our most popular top 15 videos.
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