Airports with the most terrifying and short runways: Every landing tests a pilot's skill and nerve
Some runways around the world are known for their extreme danger and elevated risk
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2 MIN READ
1/15
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Saba: The World’s Shortest Commercial Runway
Located on the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba, Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport has the distinction of having the shortest commercial runway in the world—just 400 metres long. Perched between steep hills and cliffs that plunge into the sea at both ends, the airport offers a dramatic and challenging landing experience. Only small regional propeller aircraft, operated by Winair from nearby islands like St. Maarten, are permitted to use the airstrip. Due to its extreme layout and limited space, only specially trained pilots are certified to land here.
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2/15
Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, Nepal, is the main gateway for trekkers and climbers heading to Mount Everest. Known for its dramatic setting, the airport features a short 526-metre (1,729 ft) runway that slopes uphill and ends abruptly with a steep drop into the valley below. Surrounded by rugged terrain and unpredictable weather, landings and take-offs here require exceptional pilot skill, making it one of the world's most thrilling and dangerous airports.
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3/15
The Sea Ice Runway near McMurdo Station on Ross Island, Antarctica, is no ordinary airstrip. Carved out of compacted snow and sea ice, the U.S. Antarctic Program uses this temporary runway primarily during the Antarctic summer. It serves as a critical lifeline to McMurdo Station, the most extensive research base on the continent. Pilots face unique challenges when Operating under extreme conditions — the runway has no permanent lighting, and landings often occur in whiteout conditions or complete darkness during the polar night. With freezing temperatures and a constantly shifting ice surface, every flight requires exceptional skill and preparation, making this one of the most extreme landing zones in the world.
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4/15
Pulau Tioman Airport (WMBT), located next to Kampung Tekek on Tioman Island, Malaysia, is a vital link to the mainland. Currently operated by SKS Airways Twin Otters from Subang, its short runway accommodates aircraft like the Dash 8 Q300 and ATR42. Known for one of the most challenging approaches in aviation, Tioman Airport tests even the most seasoned pilots. Landing involves a dramatic head-on approach toward a mountain, followed by a sharp 90-degree turn to line up with the short runway—runway 20 for landings, 02 for take-offs. With no margin for error, every arrival demands precision and nerves of steel, offering passengers an unforgettable, adrenaline-filled descent into this tropical paradise.
SOURCE: Flightsim.to
5/15
Wellington Airport in New Zealand features a single 1,935-metre runway that strikingly appears to begin and end in the water. Flanked by Cook Strait on both sides, the runway’s coastal location makes for visually dramatic landings and take-offs. Frequent strong crosswinds and rapidly changing weather conditions add to the challenge, requiring precision flying.
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6/15
Toncontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The Toncontín airport runway is 2,163m long and was built at an elevation of 1,005m. Due to its location next to the mountains and its narrow size, landing is very complicated. Pilots must make a dramatic sharp turn and land near the valley.
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7/15
Warning sign near the runway of Helgoland-Dune Island (Germany). The warning is about low flying aeroplanes. Heligoland Airport is located on the German island of Düne, approximately 70km from the mainland in the North Sea. Its runway is 1,575ft long ( 480 metres)
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8/15
kiathos Alexandros Papadiamantis Airport on the island of Skiathos, Greece. Its 5,341-foot (1628m ) runway is able to accommodate aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 757-200. The runway is characterised as 'short and narrow' because of the uneven terrain on the island of Skiathos.
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9/15
Madeira International Airport in Portugal. The narrow runway is not only short; it's often a site of strong winds and turbulence. On either side of the runway are rocky hills and after the airport, it's a straight drop into the ocean.
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10/15
The beach at Maho Bay is one of the world's premier planespotting destinations. Aeroplanes landing at the Princess Juliana Airport, St. Maarten , fly over beachgoers. Maho public beach is located at the end of this runway which results in huge gusts of wind and sand for sunbathers but also offering up a perfect picture. The runway is 2,164 metre long, and planes must approach over the water at an extremely low altitude appearing to be just feet above the heads of the public.
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11/15
Congonhas Airport, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Located just five miles from a city centre, Sao Paulo's Congonhas Airport is highly challenging to pilots because of the runway's close proximity to high-rise buildings. The airport has also been troubled by slippery runways.
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12/15
Saint Barthelemy Airport, also known as Gustaf III Airport, is a public-use airport located in the village of St. Jean on the Caribbean island of St. Barths. It is considered one of the most dangerous airports in the world because pilots have to descend steeply down over a hilltop on to an extremely short runway that ends on the beach.
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13/15
View of the Gibraltar International Airport and the harbour area. Gibraltar International Airport (formerly North Front Airport) serves as the air transport link to the city of Gibraltar. The airport is located at the centre of Gibraltar and serves around 300,000 passengers per annum. The length of the runway is 1800 metres.
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14/15
Jetstar aeroplane at Wellington airport, New Zealand. This airport features a one-lane 1,935-metre runway that appears to start and end in the water.
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15/15
A Pilatus PC12 during a dangerous landing where it has touched down before the runway at Courchevel Airport, France. Serving the ski resort in the French Alps, Courchevel Airport has a 1,762-ft-long runway and is mainly used by helicopters, as well as small fixed-wing aircraft. The runway is on a mountain at an elevation of 2,008m.
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Devadasan K PChief Visual Editor
Devadasan K P is the Chief Visual Editor at Gulf News, bringing more than 26 years of experience in photojournalism to the role. He leads the Visual desk with precision, speed, and a strong editorial instinct.
Whether he’s selecting images of royalty, chasing the biggest celebrity moments in Dubai, or covering live events himself, Devadasan is always a few steps ahead of the action.
Over the years, he has covered a wide range of major assignments — including the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, feature reportage from Afghanistan, the IMF World Bank meetings, and wildlife series from Kenya.
His work has been widely recognised with industry accolades, including the Minolta Photojournalist of the Year award in 2005, the Best Picture Award at the Dubai Shopping Festival in 2008, and a Silver Award from the Society for News Design in 2011.
He handles the newsroom pressure with a calm attitude, a quick response time, and his signature brand of good-natured Malayali humour. There's no fuss — just someone who gets the job done very well, every single time.
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