WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS AIRPORT! Flying to Lukla, Nepal!

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I took a flight to the world's most dangerous airport - Lukla, Nepal, to find out exactly what makes it the most dangerous airport in the world!
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[@natashalimbu3049]

Hi Noel, I was the flight attendant on your flight back from Lukla to Kathmandu here. It's so interesting to see our daily operation from a passenger's perspective. Love the video, keep them coming and hope to see you again soon!

[@2007jag]

Whoaaa :DDD

[@mr_chickenpoop]

Cool :)

[@jamesgreene4811]

It sure is a small world best wishes Natasha from Ireland you have a great job

[@twinstickpete]

That's so cool, Natasha! Hope all is well..safe flying

[@daa589]

I'm guessing you get used to it but I'd be closing my eyes for the entire duration of the flight 😅

[@Aviation18]

You know its dangerous when they measure their crashes in months and not years lol, great video mate!

[@Novusa]

Hello Aviation 18

[@ltn_aviation8474]

Aviation18 hello 👋

[@tylercai]

Aviation18 hi

[@razme4708]

who said to you in a month it will after ten year once

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

These guys are real pilots as there is NO room for errors. You have one shot at this so if the approach doesn't look right early then get out for another shot.

[@AlonsoRules]

"there hasn't been a crash since April"

[@AmyAnnLand]

Like a doctor walking into your hospital room and saying, "a haven't had a patient die since last week!"

[@nanilama7016]

Pilot : i do this all day

[@mblack6945]

@@AmyAnnLand is

[@dubbid279]

I flew to Lukla December 1989 when the runway was gravel. There were several wrecks either side which was a bit unnerving. Upon returning from the treck to Everest it had snowed for several days and flights were cancelled. About 20 of us charted a military style helicopter to get us out. The pilot took the chopper to the end of the runway and hovered over the edge. Without telling us he dropped down until we were beneath the clouds. Once he had vision he could fly back to Kathmandu. A scary but definitely exciting experience.

[@DiscoveringThailand]

I remember the bags went in a Russian chopper cause of weight limits in the plane, and standing on scales as your weight was recorded at the door of the plane... hahaha and the cross wind as the plane slides to the left as we powered down the dirt runway :)

[@nemo6686]

That would've been the MiL 'Hip' - the old ex-Soviet one?

[@frogismeme]

Oh ok

[@longerused2023]

🐂💩

[@cannon1156]

Did that flight back in 1980 and we had a similar problem with fog and snow. The army helicopter offered a lift for a price but we paid extra to get on the first normal flight out. And yes the wrecks were there in 1980

[@ace2029]

Please listen as we describe the safety features on this aircraft. Once we have landed you will find the spare pants dispenser on the underside of the seat in case you have had a self-accident during the approach.

[@imanuelcaushi4711]

I honestly have the utmost respect for the pilots and crew operating these flights multiple times a day. They are incredibly skilled and often do not get the credit they deserve, but are just given the title "banned from flying in the EU". I am certain many EU pilots would not know how to approach or land at Lukla! On another note, I managed to download Pouch just as you said How easy was that?! Does it count? 😂

[@myjoyonline.]

The pilots are not banned from the EU. The ban is due to airplanes from certain regions not meeting the EU safety standard. Specific flight instructions are required to land at challenging places like Lukla.

[@ajmukhia2522]

myjoyonline you don’t get instruction to land in Lukha there aren’t many atc at tenzing Hilary airport most landing are done via visual contact and. Pilot discretion

[@myjoyonline.]

@@ajmukhia2522 Thank you for your reply. I think you misunderstood what I wrote. Flight instruction has nothing to do with ATC. Flight Instructions are with a CFI (Certified Flight Instructor). The fact it's a STOL (Shot TakeOff and Landing) airport with commercial traffic is no joke. Certain requirements must be met before being authorised to fly commercially. This is a mandate by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

[@onlytruth9269]

🙏🙏

[@pyarepiyush]

"You just turn up and you hope for the best" - the best summary of how things are done in Nepal

[@leightondavies8884]

We flew into Lukla on a Twin Otter - our Sherpa guide said they are slower than the Dornier but much safer 😱😱 There was total silence as we approached then a huge cheer when we landed !!👍👍

[@AristoCat221]

I love how your channel is evolving. You are becoming more than just another flight reporter and follow the format that others follow. I hope you continue with success and great work!

[@noelphilips]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@zakelwe]

This is the man who did the entire flight when other people apologised for doing an entire take off and landing. He is Yorkshire's ( HUmberside? ) version of Chuck Yeager ...

[@loknathrijal4440]

Love you noel keep making video about the Nepal to support #visitnepal2020

[@michaelkitchin9665]

Man, I love how knackered that domestic terminal looks.

[@tripprogers4814]

Don't know how I missed this video for nearly a year..but check this out: For many people who have stayed in that freezing cold hotel, on their way to Everest, that room is the warmest and most comfortable place those hundreds of adventurers would experience for weeks if not months

[@LauraK308]

Videos like this one, to me, are one of the best things about KZbin. I would absolutely love to visit Lukla and that part of the world, to actually see and stand on the Himalayas...but realistically, I'll never get the chance. You did exactly what I'd want to do, which is just to take it all in. Beautiful video. Thank you for this.

[@sagarbhandari2501]

You are welcome sir😁❤️love from Nepal🇳🇵

[@alexbmwfan342]

I'd agree about going to Nepal, but why tenzing hillary? That airport is a death trap

[@nemo6686]

The old line went "We don't fly when it's cloudy because our clouds have rocks in them..."

[@nycflyertravel]

Great profile on the Lukla airport! If transiting through there is scary now I can’t imagine what it must have been like when the runway wasn’t paved!

[@THEMilkSHAIKH]

17:53 Taking down the nationalities of passengers in case the plane goes down...

[@hitnailhalfway2485]

🤣🤣🤣

[@pathegarty4757]

These pilots must have stainless steel bollocks. Crazy buggers! 😱😳

[@clairegillies7919]

Definitely one for the bucket list🤩

[@krpkrp3033]

These pilots are so good the could a carrier landing on their first go.

[@AlonsoRules]

with crosswinds

[@diamondminer2546]

in a 747

[@ewanferguson5153]

While blindfolded

[@adamgriffin8197]

With the corona virus 🦠

[@skywalker1592]

@@Avgeek1564 Try to get a normal pilot without training to do that 9 out of 10 times they wouldn't be able to

[@Mike-vs3dv]

I'm really glad i found your channel. I enjoy these a lot.

[@noelphilips]

Thanks for watching :)

[@NobodyExpectsIE]

That's luxurious accommodation for the mountainous areas of Nepal! The scenery is the best in the world. You need to man up and toughen up Noel, also some local Raksi will warm you up quicksmart if you can stomach it!

[@ebenolivier2762]

And the accommodation gets *much* worse as you go higher up the mountain. Lukla is luxurious in comparison. 🤣

[@brittanip.4783]

I was hoping you’d go here since you were in Kathmandu! I want to do the Everest Base Camp trek, but whenever I think about the tea houses and the cold on the way, I change my mind!! Loved the video!

[@captainsim3731]

"but there hasn't been a crash since April, so....yeah let's take the most dangerous flight in the world to the most dangerous airport in the world"

[@joel.sianturi]

i was like "damn" haha

[@iisakkihillner4748]

With one of the most dangerous airlines

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Yes i've been waiting for this video for a while! Will watch tonight with dinner :D

[@lachlannichol2315]

I was there 10 years ago. When I was there there was wreckage at the end of the run way where you were standing from an aircraft that had misjudged its approach and gone straight into the ground killing everyone on board. Then getting out was difficult because the weather had closed the airport for over a week. I ended up jumping in a old Russian chopper that some Americans had hired. Pilot landed it on a postage stamp sized field down the mountain then dropped it off the edge and amazing flight back

[@landinsongs]

Great episode. First video I've seen from a stroll around the runway. A nepalese pilot once said "In Nepal we don't fly in clouds, because in Nepal there are rocks in them" ;-)

[@ameliawarren1868]

I get so excited when I get a notification saying “Noel Phillips has posted a video” you’re never full of the same stuff you always mix it up it keeps the channel entertaining, love it 🙌

[@followyourdreams8673]

I can’t even land a plane on my flying app! Awesome pilots in Nepal!

[@neilpountney9414]

What a wonderful experience Noel. That will be with you for ever. Great Video too. Congratulations

[@andysorensen1737]

I guess Noel isn’t climbing Everest anytime soon eh?

[@Gabe.107-h4e]

Andy Sorensen he would not even make 1 metre of everst

[@xxdragonslayerxx1778]

I doubt it🤔

[@caseycandice]

I went to Lukla by the jeep and walking 3 days because I was too scared to land here. I took the plane on my way back from Everest Base Camp and that was one of the scariest experiences of my life, as I have plane phobia I was crying the whole time silently 😂 But I would definitely do it again ! Best pilots in the world ! It's just a bit windy.. and there is just a little cliff at the end of the runway.. meeh it's okay nothing very important !

[@SethFowler]

This was great!

[@BobbyHealy]

wasn't expecting to see you in the comments, Seth!

[@i99183]

SETHHHHHHHH

[@frogismeme]

Yea

[@MyBallsRBest]

Really enjoyed this video. The insight into Nepal , Tara Air/Sumit Air and the details of Lukla airport were a refreshing change. More like this , thx 🙏

[@TheUphillracer]

Noel, I’ve seen some properly fascinating content on KZbin but this just about takes the biscuit! Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[@johngalderton]

Excellent and informative videos always

[@benharrrisss]

My pulse was so high watching that landing. Hats off to the pilots, that takes real skill, I admire your courage, I flew into Pokhra nearby and I was terrified. You should try Paro Airport in Bhutan, apparently it’s the second most dangerous airport.

[@BenErikNess]

I was there i April 1985... Fantastic scenery and a spectacular airport! Great video!

[@Welsh_Girl_UK]

Woah, you are a brave man. No way would I even attempt to do that lol. Glad you are safe though and thankyou for doing this and filming it for us.. Another great report.

[@antfirmin]

Great video, probably the best one I've watched of yours so far!

[@travel4fun003]

Fascinating video sir! Thanks for all your travels. I always look forward to your uploads.

[@siyuchen1518]

Absolutely loving your videos and how you talk to the audience. Have you considered doing travel vlogs as well while you hang around between flights?

[@martinawolfe2803]

What a lovely place, I would love to go there

[@sagarbhandari2501]

You are welcome beautiful people😁❤️love from Nepal🇳🇵

[@herenow6953]

Loved this Noel - what beautiful surroundings! And I know it would've been more spectacular in person. Fantastic content - keep going!

[@ladyl7348]

Noel's the best!!! Amazing video!!! Hats off to these pilots!!!

[@christianstiker5345]

8:34 holy crap that was absolute butter what the hell

[@AmyAnnLand]

It's just missing an air balloon going Mach 2 having 2 F-18 crashing into him and numerous unauthorized takeoffs with users by the name of "PooPoo2" and ""FUCKU420".

[@prizman]

Hey Noel! i have followed your channel for some time now! and your channel just is just getting better and better! loved the chapes flight in a row video! you should try to do more fun videos like that! keep up the good work!:D

[@BradleyPennyAviation]

This was a great one! Cant stop watching it!

[@brudy9298]

I always enjoy your videos. They give me an opportunity to see places, airports, and airplanes that I have never and probably will never experience. Thank you and keep the videos coming please.

[@c898dba]

Possibly your best video to date! Enjoyed the fact it was more than a standard flight report - loved seeing the local area etc. Please carry on this format of exploring the area you are flying to. Cheers! Andy.

[@marklewis9146]

Great video Noel, to scary for me I'm afraid but good to see it through your eyes. Think it's time you invested in a woolly hat!

[@anitascarr7982]

Really enjoyed that video!! Wow, the scenery was spectacular!! Great watch!

[@cordial]

Clearly it is a difficult approach, given the mountainous terrain and the no go-around situation. However, with 26 fatalities in its entire history, 18 of which coming from one incident in 2008, perhaps the title of most dangerous isn't really deserved.

[@noelphilips]

Absolutely agreed. And even if it is - it’s still pretty damn safe to me.

[@cordial]

@@noelphilips I believe the tag came from an history channel documentary. They should stick to the Nazis :)

[@MomentsInTheSky]

I’ve seen this on top ten most dangerous airports..exactly as you said..interesting video thanks

[@matthewparrott8369]

Just want to say thank you for great information and content

[@Bendigo1]

Fun fact. The flights are scheduled early in the morning because after that it may get too warm for the planes to take off at that altitude.

[@Will-fn7bz]

This was my favorite of all your videos. Fascinating. Thank you.

[@nomorehierros]

A nice woolly hat is what you need Noel, makes a big difference in those freezing conditions!

[@Hillbillyhotcouple]

Noel I have watched many travel vlogs of Lukla in the past. Yours is by far the best I have watched. Giving us the view of the end of the runway was awesome. And it was nice to see the spartan accommodations of the hotel where you stayed in Lukla. I simply love these out of the way destinations. Keep up the good work and thanks so much for sharing your journeys with us.

[@mlosuno402]

It’s so crazy hearing that it’s the most dangerous runway in the world and watching the pilots make it look so effortless

[@mylosairplanefan]

Nice video Noel, loved the planespotting footage from Lukla!

[@dhit6277]

I just subscribed. I have been watching your channel for a week or so and it is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Hello from Canada!!!! Keep up the good work!

[@noelphilips]

Thank you! I literally just landed today from Canada :)

[@danjones1608]

Hell yeah! I thought the whole process was more fun than scary. Bear in mind that on the trek, base camp is 35 miles and 9000 feet of elevation separated from Lukla. Meaning every lodging is colder, more ramshackle (maybe with the exception of Namche), and more exhausting to get to. Most of those choppers flying from up-mountain were bringing back people with altitude sickness (it's a steady stream up and down the valley up to Gorakshep starting at 6am). Welcome to the Himalayas.

[@kimbuckley5197]

LOVE your videos, This airport runway as rather scary.... Keep your video's coming Noel !!

[@xXAntarresPHXx]

AWESOME! loving the new video😊 keep it up!

[@rduffy9948]

To scary for this old chook. But, thank you for showing and doing it. What an experience.

[@AnneMB955]

Amazing? I love your job. What a feeling to fly in and out of Lukla and actually exist in that part of the world. Cheers.

[@TheMellowMel]

I just found your channel yesterday and I've been on a binge ever since!

[@theazerothtourist]

content is coming on nicely! you and paul are killing it!

[@annespurlock1255]

There hasn’t been a crash since April. That’s comforting!!! 😟😲

[@GTLPT]

Great vid, very brave man

[@Edogawa1117]

Great video.I think it is your best one so far.Thanks for sharing.

[@karifredrikson8492]

You’re an Amazing person,Noel.Thank you for doing this for us!

[@leeburman6796]

Lukla Airport: "We're the most dangerous airport in the world". Wuhan airport: "Hold my beer".

[@soarandskor.aviation]

Lee Fuzz lol

[@durselegion3297]

Lee Fuzz lol

[@Alex-se4tk]

lol

[@footballhub7336]

Lee Fuzz lol

[@filipstravels5327]

Wuhan airport: "Hold my bat soup"

[@andersbolager]

Nice video. Gives me wonderful memories. I guess this is a bit too early in the year to appreciate this location, but me and my dad went there in April and took the trip all way to the Everest Base Camp. You really need to to some trekking to really get the feeling for this place. At least, go to the nearest town, Namche Basar. The hotels there are better too and it is not high enough for serious altitude sickness :-)

[@colind7144]

Great video, always wanted to see what it was like there.

[@BaggieWitz]

Good stuff Noel. This is on my bucket list along. I need to get planning. 👍🏼

[@redsbricks5993]

Sad you didn’t got on a Do228. Nice video as always. You’re an amazing KZbinr. Keep it up

[@noelphilips]

Thank you!

[@VIGGERSJ]

My school has a program where while the rest of us went on camp a select bunch went to Nepal as part of their program of becoming a certain type of "leader" within the school. They flew to this airport and one of the teachers said it was one of the scariest things he has experienced

[@Tornadoross]

A timelapse of airplanes in and out would have been epic! I really like the quality of your videos they have gotten better and better with time!

[@70053morayfirth]

Love that steep approach and the speed ramp to get you going on take off. Great vid.

[@Ben-op4nb]

Try Saint Maarten airport and stand on the beach!!

[@fsx-legend4602]

Saint Maarten has 8 thousand feet of runway this has 1700 straight dead in a mountain with no go arounds. St Barts is a different story. May of just said Paro in in Bhutan. St Maarten is not even close to being the most dangerous they land 747's there. Idiots on the Beach make it look more dangerous than it is.

[@InuKun2008]

It's known as a short field take-off, so you hold the brakes while adding throttle to the engines, and once at full power, release the brakes. This reduces the roll distance typically lost as the engines increase their rotation speed. Although into a river and not off a mountainside, Bay Bridge airport in Maryland, where I trained multiple US Navy student pilots how to fly back in 2007-08, is the same with the dip in the runway before you drop at the end. You can depart the other way, however the noise abatement due to the housing estate across the road from the runway on that end, makes for a challenge as you have to climb sharply to 500 feet, then bank hard to the left while continuing to quickly ascend to 1000 feet, as to avoid crashing into the suspension bridge across the Chesapeake Bay. Landing is equally entertaining, especially if folks on the bridge are unaware of the airport, and suddenly see a plane pass low over the bridge, before banking to turn onto final from base. It freaks them out a lot of the time, thinking that it's a terrorist attack and so tie up 911, only to be told that there's a GA airport right by the bridge, and that it's nothing to worry about.

[@jimbobalob2009]

so like launch control but on a plane

[@kittyrudman6345]

It was a dirt airport when I flew out in 1983 with a plane that crashed on the side. Plus no place on the side just straight out. However, flying in in 2008 was even scarier as when you fly out you have 10,000 feet or 3300 meters to make a mistake and recoup. Flying in you make it or you crash into the mountain. Your plane is so nice!!

[@MrGarethDHughes]

Fantastic. Really enjoyed the video. Nice to get back to basics sometimes

[@MrRamyon74]

It's like landing in somebody's backyard on the side of a hill!!

[@TheNeilsolaris]

I think I'd feel slightly paranoid if I had subscribers who were asking me to fly to the most dangerous airport!

[@davidbond4595]

Great video and very informative ..thanks 👍

[@Jon1998109]

one of your best videos to date noel! keep it up !

[@jonathancox6907]

Fantastic video!!! Nervous when taking off back out?

[@noelphilips]

Erm, maybe a little 😂

[@yordi-7658]

Wow that plane and place where you fled looks like a plane that would crash on a mountain

[@nickda1]

Amazing video Noel this Channel is really ace i love your content and really informative on locations

[@jayalberts]

Wow!!! Amazing video. Amazing scenery. Thanks Noel!!

[@timothy7805]

Banned in the EU you say? Wonder when they’ll come to LHR then 🤔

[@NintendoFanboy21]

Because we left the EU yesterday

[@NintendoFanboy21]

@@liamwoodsmora914 no their are some stuff that I don't understand

[@fly2cgnaviation83]

@@liamwoodsmora914 I'm definitely against Brexit.

[@shishirkshetry9238]

2001 when I was born on the month of October and in July the king family of nepal were killed

[@corkaviation8885]

Awesome video! Enjoyed!

[@MileHigh_Aviation]

Great video! Scary airport 😬

[@pranjalkhadka5769]

This airport is perfect morining alarm for people in lukla.. 🤣

[@noelphilips]

Although with the punctuality of Nepalese airlines probably not the most reliable ;)

[@LearnwithAbhi996]

Noel Philips haha sahi ho😂😂😂

[@jennylee423]

Yep, and even before the first plane lands, there is this loud siren that rings when the first plane flies from Kathmandu. That siren is enough motivation to wake up and get to the airport so you don't miss your flight to ktm.

[@davidbishop7346]

Always wanted to do this trip, one day!

[@seanpalmer6801]

Just subscribed to your bloody amazing channel....no seriously you go from one extreme to another and is so informative ...looking forward to your new posts haha even your sponsors are useful too , well done fella

[@noelphilips]

Thanks Sean!

[@GuillermoGomezGG1959]

Loved it! It brought up lots of memories!