Table of Contents
- The 10 most dangerous airstrips in the world will take your breath away!
- 1. The Princess Juliana International Airport, on the Island of Saint Martin
- 2. The Matekane Airstrip, in Africa
- 3. Courchevel Airport, in France
- 4. Tocontin Airport, in Honduras
- 5. Kansai International Airport in Japan
- 6. Barra International Airport, Scotland
- 7. Madeira Airport, in Portugal
- 8. Leh Airport, India
- 9. The Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, on the Island of Saba
- 10. Paroe International Airport, Bhutan
The 10 most dangerous airstrips in the world will take your breath away!
Now, before starting our flight, we must say that the risk of an air accident is influenced by the environment, the weather, the circumstances or the experience of the pilot. But risk factors such as the world’s most dangerous runways must also be noted. In fact, the most dangerous airports in the world would make anyone afraid of flying shiver. Now yes, join us in Supercurioso to meet them!
1. The Princess Juliana International Airport, on the Island of Saint Martin
There are many awesome airports, which stand as a beautiful mixture of architecture and aeronautics. But this time we want to give rise to the most dangerous airports in the world. It is not about feeding the phobia of flying that some readers may have, but about adding some curious facts to your general culture. And so we start with the Princess Juliana International Airport, which is located on the island of Saint Martin, in the Caribbean Sea.
The curious thing about this airport and precisely what makes it so terrifying is that the landing strip is located right next to a beach. Can you imagine being on the beach and planes passing just a few meters above you? As we can see in the image, this is a cause for expectation for many tourists who do not hesitate to take photos to their amazement.
We will definitely add this to our list of the most dangerous beaches in the world!
2. The Matekane Airstrip, in Africa
The next among the most dangerous airstrips in the world is called Matekane. This airstrip is located in Africa, Lesotho, in a very inappropriate place.
It is a track reserved for small and light aircraft. But why is it reserved for this type of aircraft? Because It is located on the edge of a 600-meter precipice. If any normal plane has problems and needs to land, it can be more than dangerous.
3. Courchevel Airport, in France
And we add to the most dangerous airports in the world, one that is located in a developed country. And, as you will see, aeronautical risks are not only associated with places with little economic development, such as Africa or the Caribbean islands. in the beautiful France Courchevel Airport is located, one of the most dangerous in existence. To get to it, you have to cross the French Alps.
During the winter the track is completely covered in snow, which makes it quite unstable.. In the event of the slightest problem, the pilot’s maneuvering possibilities are limited and conditioned. It is a very short runway with a steep slope, as we can see.
4. Tocontin Airport, in Honduras
And we return to American territory, to tell you about the next among the most dangerous landing strips in the world. This is the Tocontin airport, in Honduras. What makes it so dangerous is that its track is very short and it is very close to the mountains.
It was built in the 1920s and has been the scene of major accidents ever since. Among them, the most serious occurred in 2008, when in rainy conditions, a plane carrying 124 passengers failed to stop in time at the end of the runway and several people lost their lives.
Interestingly, in Honduras we also find one of the most dangerous roads in the world, in fact, it is known as the death road.
5. Kansai International Airport in Japan
And if we talk about the most dangerous airports in the world, we cannot fail to mention the amazing Kansai International Airport. Located in Japan, this airport is an artificial island located on the sea. Its two runways are linked by a bridge of just four kilometers. They are practically floating on the water, incredible!
6. Barra International Airport, Scotland
Located in Scotland, it is the only airport that does not have a runway! How do planes land then?
Well, there really is an airstrip, what happens is that it is not considered such because it is on the surface of a beachin the sand itself. What happens if the tide rises? Here’s the problem. Flight hours vary depending on the tide.
7. Madeira Airport, in Portugal
Another of the most dangerous runways in the world is in Portugal, specifically at Madeira Airport. This runway is one of the most dangerous and difficult in the world.
The track is located between the sea and the side of a mountain. Its location plus the speed of the wind, which causes high turbulence. It is so risky to land in this place, that even the pilots must process a special license for this airport.
8. Leh Airport, India
The next of the most dangerous airports in the world is located in the exotic Republic of India. Leh is considered one of the highest airports in the world. It stands at 10,682 feet above sea level.
But… what makes it more dangerous is that its runway is very short, surrounded by mountains and the scene of constant and very strong gusts of wind. So much so, that flights are restricted only to the morning hours, when there is less wind. The transit of heavy or wide-body aircraft is not allowed and the pilots who land there have had to undergo special training.
9. The Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, on the Island of Saba
In the Caribbean we find the small Island of Saba. And in it, one of the most dangerous airports in the world, the Juancho E. Yrausquin. The runway is quite short, but what makes it really dangerous is that it is surrounded at both ends by two cliffs.
10. Paroe International Airport, Bhutan
The Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, in South Asia, is the scene in which we find one of the most dangerous landing strips in the world. It is the only airport in the country, and its accessibility is quite limited.
The track is short, but it is also surrounded by mountain ranges which represent a tremendous challenge for landing. So much so, that the runway is only open when certain conditions are met that guarantee a safe landing and Only eight pilots from all over the world are authorized to land at this airport.
And you, Did you know this list of the most dangerous airports in the world? Which one has caught your attention the most? Know other landing strips that take your breath away? We await your answers! And if you are interested in aeronautics, don’t miss the article in which we tell you about the mystery of flight 502. Until our next meeting!