10 Extreme Airport Runways You Won't Believe Exist
Beaches, ice, mountain cliffs. Only the bravest of all pilots land here.
Flying is statistically the safest way to travel. Only 0.07 deaths per one billion were attributed to flying from 2000 to 2009, compared to 7.28 by car.
Even with odds in your favour, there are some airports that would make even the most relaxed flyer nervous.
There are airports in so remote locations that if your pilot's judgement is off, you could end up in oblivion, and others which have runways that are the stuff of nightmares. There are runways so short that planes have been known to dive off the end of cliffs and others that are only open when the tide is out.
So if your holiday destination this year involves landing in one of these 10 extreme airports you might want to think about bracing yourself for a possible rough landing.
10. Toncontín International Airport - Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Landing in Toncontín International Airport requires some courage! With high terrain and an incredibly short runway, this airport is often referred to as the second most dangerous airport in the world.
Pilots are required to make sharp turns, drop suddenly and break quickly. They must do all this whilst avoiding the houses below.
The good news is that everyone has had enough of this airport. Work is already underway on the brand new Palmerola International Airport, which will replace Toncontín in 2018.