The most dangerous airport in the world is Tenzing-Hillary Airport, commonly known as Lukla Airport, famous due to its location, design and operating conditions that make it the most dangerous airport in the world.
Key Features:
1. Location: The airport is located at an altitude of approximately 2,860 meters (9,383 feet) above sea level, in the Himalayan region.
2. Runway: The runway is extremely short, only 527 meters (1,729 feet) long, and has a steep 12-degree slope. This is necessary to help aircraft brake during landing and quickly gain speed during takeoff.
3. Conditions: Weather conditions in Lukla can change rapidly, with frequent low clouds and strong winds, complicating flight operations.
4. Operations: Due to the difficulty of landing and taking off at Lukla, only pilots with a lot of experience and special training can fly to this airport.
Importance: Lukla Airport is the main gateway to Sagarmatha National Park and Mount Everest. It is used by mountaineers, trekkers and tourists heading to the Everest region. Without this airport, access to these areas would be significantly more difficult and would require several days of walking from the nearest airport, Phaplu.
History: The airport was built in 1964 by Edmund Hillary, one of the first mountaineers to reach the summit of Everest along with Tenzing Norgay. It was named in honor of these two mountain pioneers.
Security: Due to its unique characteristics and challenges, the airport has seen several accidents over the years. The combination of the short runway, steepness, and adverse weather conditions makes every landing and takeoff at Lukla a high-risk operation. Lukla Airport is crucial for access to one of the most emblematic regions of world mountaineering.
Most Dangerous Airport in the World
