The world's most dangerous airport is located in the Himalayas.

It is estimated that more than 300 people have died and countless others have been injured while attempting to climb Mount Everest. However, the danger doesn't just lurk during the ascent of the majestic mountain; it truly begins the moment people land at Lukla Airport.

Located at an altitude of nearly 3,000 meters above sea level, Tenzin-Hillary Airport is situated in Lukla town, Khumbu, Solukhumbu district, eastern Nepal. It is also the closest starting point for travelers embarking on their trek to Everest Base Camp.

Every day, numerous flights carry mountaineers from Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, to Lukla. Although the flight time is approximately 25 to 30 minutes, the two airports are worlds apart, as this airport possesses all the elements that could make a pilot break a sweat.

This isn't the world's highest civilian airport, but Lukla's altitude still presents a challenge. The airport is surrounded by steep, mountainous terrain. The short runway sits atop a cliff, plunging directly down into the valley below.

At this altitude, air density is typically significantly lower than near sea level. This impacts the power generated by aircraft engines, reducing lift. Reduced air resistance also poses a challenge for pilots attempting to decrease aircraft speed.

The runway at Lukla Airport is over 500 meters long, while runways at many international airports worldwide are over 3,000 meters long. Therefore, it was designed with a 12% slope toward the mountain cliff so that aircraft can decelerate in time.

The hilly terrain surrounding the airport does not allow aircraft to circle while waiting to land. When a flight begins to take off from here, it is forced to land. Therefore, only helicopters or small propeller aircraft are allowed to operate here.

Another risk is that the weather in the Himalayas is often unpredictable, with sudden fog, storms, or snow always possible. Cloud cover is particularly thick in the afternoons, so most flights are scheduled for early morning. Cancellations or delays to Lukla are also frequent occurrences.

Incidents at Lukla have reached double digits. The most serious accident occurred in 2008, when a Yeti Airlines flight crashed into a mountain shortly after landing, just meters from the runway's endpoint. The pilot's visibility was obscured by fog, killing all 16 passengers and two of the three crew members. The pilot was the sole survivor.

Therefore, pilots flying here now must meet high standards set by the Nepalese Civil Aviation Authority. They must complete 100 takeoffs and landings on short runways, have at least one year of flying experience in Nepal, and complete 10 flights to Lukla under the supervision of a professional instructor.

My Tong