They crashed off the cliff before they could take off... But the airport passengers were more afraid of being left behind.

Flying is the fastest way to travel around the world, but some airports in remote yet strategically important locations can be truly terrifying. Lukla Airport (now renamed Tenzing-Hillary Airport), located near Mount Everest in Nepal, not only has a runway that looks as narrow as a regular street, flanked by houses on both sides, but what’s even more astonishing is that the short runway ends abruptly at a cliff and towering mountains — earning it the title “world’s most dangerous runway.” For pilots, working at this airport means either taking off or crashing into the mountain or cliff — there’s simply no option to abort the takeoff.

Despite being absolutely nerve-wracking, this airport is actually quite busy. According to reports, during the peak mountaineering tourism season, nearly 80–90 flights take off and land here daily, with 3 to 4 planes operating simultaneously at certain times. However, foreign media report that many passengers’ biggest fear here isn’t the stressful runway — it’s not knowing the exact flight information and the fear of being left behind at the airport, unaware that their plane has already taken off.

Though terrifying, Lukla Airport handles around 80–90 takeoffs and landings per day during the peak mountaineering season, making it a fairly busy airport. (Photo / Visuals by Dazi Image via Shutterstock)

Reports indicate that the airport’s flight information bulletin board was damaged years ago and has yet to be repaired, leaving passengers often confused about when they need to board and which flight they should be on. Additionally, due to the airport’s inherent environmental limitations, most flights are concentrated in the morning. When winds are too strong or weather conditions poor, flights get delayed, making the already chaotic flight information even more confusing. As a result, passengers are constantly forced to ask ground staff for updates. And it’s not just passengers who complain — the ground staff are also frustrated, as they often have to spend time tracking down travelers. Want to experience the thrill of takeoff? You’d better make sure you board the plane first.