Most dangerous landing in the world - Bhutan? (Original)

Truly incredible! Paro, Bhutan in a A319. Actual landing filmed from Cockpit. Fast forward to minute 6 if you need to! Filmed from jump seat by a very lucky passenger! watch our latest video HERE: • Amazing Turbo-Prop fli...

[@habyss]

Generally, I like to think my pilot isn't saying "holy shit" 30 seconds before landing.

[@joepatroni8777]

Um, it was a passenger in the jumpseat recording the landing saying that.

[@waldog550]

Better than "Oh fuck! OH FUCK! *OH FUCK!* NOOOOOOOOOOOOO..."

[@robertgantry2118]

Waldog Ho We Fuk. Sum Ting Wong, We Tu Lo. Bing Bang Ou.

[@TonyStark786]

Robert Gantry Capt. Sum Ting Wong, We Tu Lo, Ho Lee Fuk, Bang Ding Ou... the sequence is important.

[@robertgantry2118]

Tony Stark Yeah, I wasn't really trying to make people laugh at the joke so much as I was just kinda reminding people of the joke. So.... you know.... oh well...

[@nuplanner]

I flew into Paro in 2006--what a memorable flight! We were below the peaks the last several minutes, banking hard and dropping down noticeably after each bank, until we flew past those houses close enough to see the faces of the people who lived there. Our French pilots were great, they really knew their craft. I'm a bit of a nervous flier, but never once felt a twinge. Thanks for the video memory!

[@heatherstub]

Seriously though, I take my hat off to that pilot! That takes an amazing amount of nerve and stability to land a plane in that terrain. Even if I can't see, all I have to do is read about Bhutan and the areas around it, and it makes my heart skip and my stomach go up in to my throat.

[@ptagat]

I fully agree

[@SVMS010Overflag]

Great video! I remember when I went to Bhutan, our guide made this joke about the approach to Paro: "Druk Air stands for: Drink Rum Urgently Kamikaze Arrival In Ricefield"

[@stephanschmidt2918]

My deep respect to these pilots! We Salute you!

[@lamontfortune73]

What's not shown is how close the wing tips come to the sides of the mountains on the way in. Had the privilege of actually flying into and out of Paro as one of the airline's passengers -- quite the experience that makes you REALLY appreciate the pilots' skill!

[@julianofpaignton6202]

That's ok, I'll drive to Bhutan

[@kushalghimiray]

probably more dangerous going through those winding roads carved into the mountains...and the steep fall beside the roads are just so scary...

[@fbaankit8126]

Hey 🤣

[@VanguardDragon]

It must be really amazing living there, not only for the scenery but for the chance to see this kind of landing just outside your window.

[@AJ-ku7nm]

Meh, parking my car in London is tougher.

[@symir547]

6:19 "Holy Shit"

[@Amonginsanity]

This is absolutely stunning footage of landing. I watched it twice just now and feel adrenaline rush. I wonder how was that pilot feeling who almost missed the runway on landing in this case. He kept his cool and not only landed but also managed to stop it before running out of the landing strip. Very well done Sir. And thank you very much for posting it here on youtube.

[@Skipperj]

Great job filming and hats off to the Captain & crew

[@pietromorelli3388]

Clifton Jamison

[@malihaparvin9005]

My husband Aminul Hassan did the earliest video on landing at Paro, back in 2006.

[@cpocketts]

Fantastic approach and landing! Would love to fly that approach

[@MarkS-vn2yj]

+cpockettsAviation not me. like I say I would shit my pants that is a scary landing. holy shit man

[@Cl4rendon]

Always breathtaking to watch Paro approaches. I have huge respect for those pilots of Druk Air.

[@root9065]

The Captain must have been thrilled to have a "backseat pilot" behind him commenting every obvious action.

[@tyronmassolini4654]

a Navigator pilot is a requirement for this approach

[@SN57ONE]

You must be thrilled to have a phone for the 1st time 8 years ago that you have to put an obviously pathetic comment like this

[@sadikmeah4057]

I was hanging onto my seat while watching this! And after the landing I was so overjoyed I farted!

[@DowntownCanon]

+Sadik Meah That extra thrust could be a problem on landing here.

[@sadikmeah4057]

DowntownCanon Lol! Good one!

[@KRW628]

This is staggeringly dangerous. 500 feet above ground level; 135 knots (which is barely above stall speed in a turn) when he makes the first turn. The second turn begins at 200 feet; still turning at 100 feet; wings level at 60-75 feet. I wouldn't even try this approach in a Cessna; instead I'd make a steep straight in approach. I've done it. There's no way in hell I'd fly a jet airliner into this runway. You've got NO margin for error.

[@scheusselmensch5713]

+Michael Powell It's not that bad really. First off, you don't know what weight they're operating at. Second, turns in a descent run much less risk of stall, which doesn't overmuch enter into this because the Airbus has to be severely bullied into a stall. In fact this is a piece of piss compared to the old Hong Kong when you consider the iron that flew in there over the decades.

[@kelvynLumumba]

Then you're not a pilot🤔

[@lordsushi69.-.63]

There are about 10 -20 pilots that are allowed to fly to this airport and when there is bad weather all flights get cancelled

[@scrimmo]

Fifteen years flying the approach before a first officer is qualified to land Paro

[@jonalynmarfe8218]

Just few pilot certified yo do the job

[@whitneylaughlin]

I flew into Paro from Delhi on Drukair back in 1997. As we were passing by Everest/Chomolungma, I marveled that we were at eye level and was taking photos like mad (I knew ahead to sit on the left side). A flight attendant came and tapped me on the shoulder and said that the captain (who sounded very much like Thich Nhat Hanh) wanted me to come to the cockpit. I was a bit worried that I had broken some security rule. No, he was just being kind and wanted me to sit in the jump seat with big windows so that I could get better photos. Such began an incredible three weeks in this magical kingdom. Because all flights are visual (no radar), and the weather can be unpredictable, they recommend allowing up to 8 hours for connecting flights. Back then, there was no terminal (it was just being completed), so on my return, we handful of foreigners and mostly locals sat by the tarmac, prayer flags flapping in the stiff breeze, for several hours waiting for the weather conditions in the Himalayas to improve. Finally, the plane was sighted. A group of passengers descended looking a bit pale and shaken. Apparently, they had to circle for a while before they could land. When we boarded, the pilot (with a very American accent this time) said, "I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is, because we had to circle for so long, we used up a lot of fuel and will have to refuel at an Indian Air Force base just over the border. So it will be a very steep initial climb over the tall peaks. But the good news is I was a US Airforce pilot in Vietnam and can fly anywhere." As we took off, it was like being in one of those high-speed elevators and I could feel my body pressed hard against my seat. At moments like these, I check how the locals are reacting and they were all sitting with eyes closed, clicking their mala beads. Serious business. As we cleared the peaks I felt like I could reach out and touch the tops, we were that close. The steep descent was no less scary. We finally landed - big communal sigh of relief - and I was delighted to see that the nosecones of the Indian Airforce planes there were all brightly painted, each with its own Hindu god or goddess. I would so love to return to Bhutan one of these days. There were hardly any foreign visitors back then and I know it has changed, but I bet it is no less wonderful as the Bhutanese people still believe in "Gross National Happiness" (GNH rather than GNP).

[@planeflying193]

This is amazing epic footage - Bravo Captain!

[@saborwolf]

Crazy. Perfect day with many many miles of visibility and you still don't see the runway until your GPWS says 500 feet.

[@worldbestpilot]

They switch it off, since it would not stop screaming.

[@opicatchu2164]

simply amazing ! wonderful country...i would like to go there (by car or by horses)

[@khalafalshammari7553]

Francois Gauthier why not by airplane ? 😂😂

[@paulm5197]

This is my favorite aviation video. I never get tired of viewing it. If this doesn't tighten the sphincter of any pilot then that pilot has no imagination. Beautiful flying!

[@paulm5197]

I'm a pilot and have watched this several times and it still has amazing pucker power. Definitely my favorite landing video. Congrats to the pilots!

[@Sepitamah]

Even if it is not the most difficult landing ; I'm sure it's the Most Beautiful of them!

[@777TIMEZONE]

These pilots have nerves of steal.. My hat goes off to these fantaskic pilots.

[@MrEstiffany]

I was on a 747 landing at the original Kai Tak at night. It was really something as there's little room for a normal approach and all planes had to actually quickly dive into the airport with a really sudden steep decent after a sharp turn. Some ride! The new airport is a lot easier to land at.

[@MindGuruTV]

Fascination video, all the details are filmed beautifully despite the shaking of the craft.

[@blackmennewstyle]

The take-off must be also crazy >.

[@rajasimanta]

Unseasoned pilots in this terrain will tremble just studying the flight path.

[@birdredwoods2189]

Fuckoff Raj . I flew a cessna 172 into this field backwards.

[@birdredwoods2189]

Dante Ramkaran I definately flew it into that field backwards Dante. It was a Cessna 182. Each wing surface had large lettering decals that read RAMKARAN.

[@fritzkatz]

Dante Ramkaran OK boys. get a room... better yet, all simulator and RC yahoos back to the toy store and let real pilots cavort here without annoying them./// Birdie: define "backwards". Dante: try 73 times more massive, not 5 ya yoiks.

[@birdredwoods2189]

Swampy Dave Oh come on now Swampy Dave - avoid allowing your ego to creep in. Its only youtube . .

[@fritzkatz]

Bird Redwoods Ah, Mr "Fuckoff Raj" stirs. Just correcting obvious factual inaccuracies for the benefit of all... and chiding the children. Say again ref "backwards" ?

[@timjbo]

Not sure that I am in a hurry to endure that again... great video, many thanks

[@WillWassmann]

This is the first video in ages where my heart was literally pounding. WOW! THAT EXISTS!? *claps for the pilots!*

[@claudiaowens7143]

OMG!! Amazing job by these pilots!

[@jamesstrole9417]

Only 45 pilots are authorized to land at that Airport.

[@supreem5548]

How do you know that

[@stilz0]

Amazing video. I'm overwhelmed how close those houses are to the runway!

[@adelaideboeing737project4]

One of the Greatest landing s I have ever seen. Will be trying this in the simulator. Great Video

[@beatriss9250]

Incredible!!! Absolutely astonsihed with the fortitude and calm skillful precision these guys accomplish this feat! I am in awe...........

[@rogerwilco2]

The A319 is a big plane. That's quite a feat.

[@3209explosion]

A landing truly worth clapping for

[@biswasgurung7734]

executed beautifully. two thumbs up for u guys

[@airportlimo992]

Thanks for sharing this great video

[@FelisLeopard]

dayum... i envy those pilots and their experience!

[@Thuksey]

I once noted that stupid expression on passengers' faces, that of fear and anxiety yet of thrill and joy. And upon disembarking someone remarked the whole valley seemed air-conditioned! Bhuan's airport is truly great like the country itself!

[@segundooron]

I love a youtube video especially when it makes my hands sweaty watching it. Wow, one hell of an approach and spectacular landing.

[@Mickey_Bauer]

Holly fucksicles that was amazing - can we get the IFR version now =)

[@EpiChannel]

Thumbs up for the pilot

[@LadypilotOlsonHilary]

amazing flying !! love this .

[@intransit982]

wow ...mixed feelings ! scared and excited at the same time , looking forward to fly into Paro in a few weeks

[@CraZzy3n3rGy]

tssskkk...i do this all the time with a jet..... in battlefield 3

[@drummerdude100]

***** Wow, joke went right over your head.

[@Sn0wboarder2390]

***** Those games basically are real life dude. You're just too old to understand.

[@drummerdude100]

***** It was a joke you idiot. Get a sense of humour.

[@DarkDawnActual]

Your make-believe world is not the same as the real world and typically your comment comes from an American that lacks a proper education.

[@DarkDawnActual]

drummerdude Get an education other than the inbreeding education you have.

[@MrTrolmastr]

the aircraft must be right above stall speed

[@mrtrek64]

Crazy skills on display here. That plane touches down mere seconds after a hard turn. Amazing!!

[@themtoniraniremaxbroker2447]

Great Flying. My Deepest Respects!! Blessings All The Way from Canada!!

[@Thizlamic]

WHEW.....RESPECT.

[@UraFlight]

Wow! This is coolest adrenalin landing! How about takeoff?

[@yahnsolo]

+UraFlight Yeah would like to see any takeoff from this Paro airfield!

[@michaelrobbins7390]

... kind of like the old kai tak approach ... looks like fun ... Thank You!

[@Zeeblog]

Awesome video. I flew into Paro last summer and remember the landing quite well. One of my regrets is that I didn't ask to go into the cockpit to watch. I'm assuming they were happy to let you in judging by this video.

[@vegasjill21]

Hmmm. I take it there are no ATC there. It looks like these guys just gotta 'feel' their way in!!! OMIGOSH I guess so!! lol They are at 1,000 ft and the pilot says "still can't see the runway" .....Then when he sees it. "Holy $hit!" lol Now THAT was fun! :o Don't they have instruments that tell them it's location??

[@danielamann7811]

first of all there is a ATC Tower, its on top of the main terminal building. They don't feel there way in, its all about interments and flight path. it wasn't the pilot who said he cant see the runway or holy shit, it was the cameraman or i guess the Co-Replacement pilot. and of course they have instruments, GPS and FPD

[@vegasjill21]

Daniel Amann Oh! Whew..thanks so much for clearing all that up for me! . lol I appreciate it!! :)

[@jimhizon1763]

Paro airport has VOR (VHF omnidirectional beacon), DME (distance measuring equipment) and NDB (non-directional beacon), which are pretty basic radio navigation equipment. It doesn't have most instruments that you would expect to see in other international airports. Paro cannot handle night flights. Also, all flights within Paro aerodrome are strictly VMC (visual meteorological conditions), due to adverse weather conditions that will make IFR (instrument flight rules) flights impossible. The weather might explain why we won't see more radio navigation equipment at Paro. Planes bigger than a B757-200 cannot hope to land in Paro, since it's a category C airport. However, I'm not sure if a light plane, like a Cessna 152, has ever landed at Paro. If someone has already done that, I would like to shake that pilot's hand and buy him a case of beer.

[@vegasjill21]

Jim Hizon Hi Jim! Great comment! Thanks for your knowledgeable explanation All I know is this looks like a pretty scary place to land!! Especially during some bad weather conditions!! Thanks again. :-)

[@58ripple]

vegasjill21 I flew into Paro this springtime. They only fly in /out in the morning when weather conditions are more reliable and even then often have to cancel flights because of bad weather. The approach is a buzz - you are below the mountain line for about 15 minutes

[@whataboutredlorry]

Shit... not even lined up at 100 feet. Umm... not thanks. But good job.

[@robman2100]

This is insane. Great landing.

[@johnkinnane547]

Incredible, bloody good pilots imagine doing it rough weather. Thanks for the vid regards John

[@DariusBlackdeer]

Do you realize all those passengers have BUTHANEEEESE PASSPOOOOOOORTSSS

[@oliverjumelle]

every bone in your body is saying missed approach

[@helir00]

Wicked landing !! Pure and simple. Top job chaps

[@javacup912]

DrukAir is the airline that flies to this airport, VQPR, and during trials for choosing which airplane to acquired, both 737-800 and the A319 were flown here, and V1 cuts were executed and mid-weights. Both airplanes flew away on one engine, circled around and landed all on one angine. Perhaps because DrukAir was coming off the BAE-146, the Airbus airplane was selected. But both airplanes can get in and out of Paro. EGPWS software is modified due to terrain, and a special check out is required.

[@DailyOSnews]

Air crash investigation is all but anyone minds seeing Horrible Cessna #crash #at student #Pilot #Solo ? because as times are passing we new more new technologies to avoid plane crashes and make Aviation more safe!

[@DailyOSnews]

/watch?v=zWm2TAMwb3U not kidding

[@kenotube3160]

What a nutty place for a commercial airport.

[@tackssherbo7104]

+KenoTube Seriously?? Considering that Bhutan is landlocked and a part of the Himalayan Mountains and has a terrain ranging from about 700 feet to 26,000 feet, I would suggest that you would be extremely hard pressed to find an expansive prairie to build a frilly airport with a number of runways.

[@kenotube3160]

+Tacks Sherbo Well, just because there are no great places in all of Bhutan for large commercial jets, doesn't mean they should just find the best of possibilities and be satisfied with that. An A319 is pretty big to be making those kinds of maneuvers safely in a narrow valley. And this was a flight with good visibility. There's not a lot of margin for error. Why not use another international airport south of the Himalayas and then have connecting flights to Paro in a much smaller commercial turboprop?

[@tackssherbo7104]

KenoTube Don't forget that Bhutan is a Parliamentary MONARCHY, very similar to England. It sits right at the feet of China and on the "head" of India. It does not want to be swallowed up by China. It is a matter of "face" to provide modernity to be at least on par with its allies for trade and tourism by providing adequate access and transportation. It only has a tiny army of about 15 or 16,000 and its major ally, India, has an agreement with Bhutan's govt to provide it protection, and also gets the benefit of its trade and substantial aid. Shipping adequate supplies is certainly much easier with an adequate jet air strip, rather than scaled down prop jobs. In fact, although I could not find direct evidence, it is quite possible that India provided at least a measure of funding to build that jet strip should it ever need it. .

[@kenotube3160]

+Tacks Sherbo I was not aware of the political influence involved. Very interesting. Thanks for the info.

[@GirishVenkatachalam]

+KenoTube I am from India. Not sure if India helps Bhutan,does not look like it. Many countries are scared of India & China in this subcontinent.

[@StreetMan2720]

Superb work by the airline Captain!

[@TheHorsebox2]

Looked at this for the umpteenth time. Still impresses the hell out of me.

[@BrandonStark0]

Anyone here from Hello Internet?

[@Nethseaar]

+Yoshiman__ Tim, reporting for duty!

[@Karikato]

+Yoshiman__ why do you want to know? I don't trust you.

[@foocheewai7896]

Karikato

[@zidjames]

Yoshiman__ Hai

[@supreem5548]

CaptainYosho me

[@mastertek383]

I bet those brake pads were stinking

[@DaveBo270]

Wow! Exciting to watch and kudos to pilots who successfully land and volunteer for return flights!

[@eldiablo8019]

These guys have nerves of steel. Looks like a really beautiful place. I would like to go there. I will just close my eyes and sing a little song in my head at final approach for landing.

[@openseas11]

I like to know how much these people pay for their home insurance.

[@DarkDawnActual]

Life insurance is the question.

[@khalafalshammari7553]

Jimi J well the Government must pay them the insurance, cuz the airport location is the government responsibility.

[@markgorney4268]

It would really piss me off if I had to land there.

[@belZaah]

You can't. It's only Bhutanese pilots who are allowed to do this. They go to the cockpit only for landing.

[@markgorney4268]

Then why is the pilot saying "Still can't see the runway" and "Shit" in a British accent??

[@belZaah]

+Mark Gorney because that is not the pilot speaking. Trust me, I just came from the place, asked a ton of questions

[@markgorney4268]

It seems odd that the co-pilot would do all the talking.

[@thractrack]

Its not the co-pilot talking, its a british guy sitting in the jumpseat.

[@jacqueslauzon]

I liked the approach, should not been easy! Great job, congratulation!

[@reivanen]

Beautiful landing!

[@raccuia1]

I found that very interesting. Great job by the pilot and great video

[@hempyexxy]

Absolutely impressive! Thanks for sharing.

[@lonelyboy57]

that's some tough final approach and landing... impressed..

[@moeburn]

Paro Airport (IATA: PBH, ICAO: VQPR) is the only international airport of Bhutan. The airport is located 6 km (3.7 mi) from Paro in a deep valley on the bank of the river Paro Chhu at an elevation of 2,200 m (7,200 ft). With surrounding peaks as high as 5,500 m (18,000 ft) it is considered one of the world's most challenging airports,[2] and as of October 2009, only eight pilots in the world are certified to land at the airport.[3] Flights at Paro are allowed under visual meteorological conditions only and are restricted to daylight hours from sunrise to sunset.[4]

[@renshall33]

Gob smackingly good - wow! I don't think I'll ever have a view from the 'office window' that even slightly compares. Well done chaps :)

[@DeathWatchatMidnight]

An excellent video and a masterful landing!

[@tucsonazul]

That was freaking beautiful! i felt like I was flying that plane, difficult but challenging, I bet it feels great to be in command.

[@MuraliNagaraj]

very talented and patient and skilled captain!!

[@louisette02]

Great landing!

[@thomasdosborneii]

Yay, landed safely! Despite the difficulty, this makes me want to go. It looks beautiful and the location certainly fascinating.

[@Fooofs]

Oh, so THIS is where I left all my "nopes"

[@anwarma1]

Amazing Landing. Nicely filmed. It seemed hard landing but amazing dare devil approach to the landing strip.

[@gethinwilliams1080]

Excellent video! Hats off to the flight crew.

[@tony00165]

I agree the crew derserve a round of applause.. a dangerous airport to get into..I wonder when it sunk in that the've got to get out as well. Imagine this in a rain sqall......Our father who art in heaven!

[@LJSJIUJITSU]

The pilot, co, and navigator are some serious studs on this one.

[@toosinbeymen6304]

What a ride. Much better when you can see the path from the cockpit.

[@MrLetmein2011]

amazing video , well done!!

[@zigarten]

To those if you making comments about the narration. It's the video person saying that stuff NOT the pilot.

[@Spaceace2001]

That is really impressive, makes Kai Tak look like a piece of cake!

[@81modestoben]

Wow good job man now that's a landing

[@adaptiveagile]

That was a pucker experience. Impressive flying. Scary airfield.

[@ElijahOnTheJourney]

Awesome bit of flying !!

[@randymediaonline4616]

Some landing indeed excellent piloting and outstanding piece of flying engineering too! I salute you all!

[@Punditube]

How about that 180 turn on the runway!! Nicely done, sir! ;D

[@statebouncer]

Thanks for sharing! Great approach and footage....