"The World's Most Dangerous Airport" | Planespotting at Lukla Tenzing-Hillary Airport

Jai Jaggi
Jai Jaggi
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Published 2021-10-12
A cliff on one end and a mountain or the other, there's little scope of going around in the event of an unstable approach.

However, the airport not only connects trekkers from all over the world to some of the world's highest peaks but is also a lifeline for people living along these famous treks. Everything has to be flown into Lukla and carried further up on foot by Sherpas.
This makes Lukla a challenging, scary, dangerous yet important airport.

Pilots need heaps of experience in mountain flying. Everything flight follows VFR which, owing to the mountain weather, causes huge delays and cancellations. Something I fell victim to on my way back to Kathmandu.

Everything aside, as an AvGeek it was a truly magnificent experience being here. I know this won't be my last time visiting Lukla, I wish to be back here at some point in my life. Therefore I wouldn't call it "Once In a Lifetime" just yet.

Also included a few photos at the end of each clip to justify the shutter sound that (very frequently) interrupted the music from the engines.

I had visited just as the travel restrictions were lifted, so consequently there weren't many heli movements just yet. Also missing were the Sita and Tara Air Do228s.

Gear used: GoPro Hero 8 Black, Canon 80D, 18-135 USM, 100-400 IS II
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