Ranking of the 17 most dangerous airports on the planet | May 30, 2025

They’re not all lost in remote areas or perched on icy peaks, but they have one thing in common: making every landing as stressful as a World Cup final. Some flirt with cliffs, others invite themselves into the heart of cities or even onto a beach. Prepare to embark on a world tour… where every runway is a challenge.

1. Skiathos Airport: the beach, the planes… and the thrill

Imagine a runway wedged between the Aegean Sea and the hills,  so short that you land a plane on it like you would park in a city . In Skiathos, pilots have to brush past the heads of tourists who have come to immortalize the moment. The result? A spectacular experience, somewhere between cinema and reality.

2. Barra, the airport on shifting sand

Unique in the world, Barra Airport uses a beach as its runway.  Planes can only land there at low tide . The timing has to be perfect: a real challenge for pilots,  a dream setting for passengers .

3. Santa Catalina: perched above the void

High in the Californian highlands, Santa Catalina Airport seems suspended in mid-air. Unpredictable gusts of wind turn every approach into  a balancing act . You have to constantly adjust your trajectory  like a feather in the wind .

4. Madeira, the tight turn landing

The runway at Cristiano Ronaldo Airport, surrounded by mountains and overlooked by the Atlantic Ocean, forces drivers to perform a spectacular low-altitude turn.  A turn worthy of a rally special stage… but with a passenger plane .

5. Saint-Barth: the short runway where every centimeter counts

With only  650 meters of runway , planes must descend in a dive while avoiding a hill.  There is no margin for error: every landing must be perfectly executed.

6. Banga, the cliffside airport

Perched atop an Indonesian mountain, Banga imposes a descent on a  30% inclined track .  A bit like trying to place a bicycle on a ramp while descending.

7. Toncontin, Honduras: A 45° turn to land

Surrounded by peaks, this airport requires a right-angle turn just before the runway. One mistake,  and the mountain reminds you of its imposing presence .

8. Ice Runway: When the runway melts beneath your feet

In Antarctica, planes land on a frozen surface… which shifts, cracks, and reflects light like a mirror.  With no markings or lighting, only the pilot’s vision and experience count.

9. Paro, the challenge of the Himalayas

With its  5,500m peaks , Paro requires precise choreography.  Fewer than twenty pilots in the world are authorized to land a plane there , proof that this landing is an elite form of activity.

10. Courchevel: a ski run for planes

With its  19% gradient  and picture-postcard setting, Courchevel Airport looks more like a black run than an airport. But ski enthusiasts will find direct access to their favorite resort,  in an atmosphere worthy of an action movie .

11. Wellington, capital of wind

With constant winds exceeding  60 km/h , Wellington makes planes dance like falling leaves.  Add to that the frequent presence of birds, and each approach becomes a delicate ballet .

12. Gibraltar: When cars have to stop for planes

The runway literally crosses a national road.  Red lights stop cars to let planes pass . Precision coordination is required, and stress is guaranteed for all users.

13. Kansai, Japan: The Slowly Sinking Airport

Built on an artificial island, this airport gently sinks into the sea. Typhoons, giant waves, and landslides are common.  A true technological showdown with nature .

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