10 Extreme Airport Runways You Won't Believe Exist

by Jen Gallie

1. Tenzing-Hillary Airport - Lukla, Nepal

Tenzing Hillary Airport Lukla Nepal
Wikimedia

Often awarded the title of the most dangerous airport in the world, Tenzing-Hillary Airport is the gateway to Mount Everest.

The runway is just 527 metres long and is surrounded by high terrain and steep valleys. There's no radar to help pilots and due to its mountain top location there's no ability to turn around and try again.

There have been many crashes over the years. In 2008, 18 people were killed when a plane crashed into the mountain due to heavy fog. Whilst earlier this year 2 people were killed when a cargo plane came down just 200 metres short of the runway.

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Jen has been a writer and video editor at WhatCulture for over 10 years. She has a BA Hons in History from Newcastle University and in a past life worked at Beamish Open Air Museum and was a corporate trainer (BTC Award in Education and Training). Jen joined WhatCulture to discuss all things Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World, as well as her love of all things movies. She has worked closely with Universal and Disney, giving WhatCulture readers breaking news and exclusives. Her knowledge of Disney parks has lead her to be published by The Sun. If you've ever completed a Disney movies or Friends quiz on WhatCulture it was probably written by Jen. Jen's love of all things Universal's Halloween Horror Nights brought her to WhatCulture's Horror Channel as a video editor. Her video edits can be found across WhatCulture's Film & TV and Horror channels, along with WhatCulture's Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounts.