Lukla's Tenzing-Hillary Airport (2,845 m) is often called the world's most dangerous airport because its runway is only 527 m long, slopes at about 12%, and ends at a cliff, with fast-changing mountain weather. In practice, thousands of flights land safely every season, and the most recent fatal accident at Lukla was in April 2019. Only specially trained pilots fly here, and flights operate in the morning in good visibility. The real risk for trekkers is delay. Keep a spare day before your flight home.
- Elevation2,845 m / 9,334 ft
- Runway527 m long, about 12% slope
- Flights fromManthali in spring and autumn, Kathmandu otherwise
- Flight timeAbout 20 min from Manthali, 35 from Kathmandu
- OperatorsTara Air, Sita Air, Summit Air
- Baggage limit15 kg (10 kg checked + 5 kg hand)
Lukla's airport has a reputation that reaches people long before they book an adventurous trip to Nepal. Before you fly to one of the most beautiful trekking regions on Earth, it helps to know what the risks really are and how they're managed.
Like many great trekking routes, the Everest trail starts with a challenge. Here we look at Lukla Airport.
Lukla is a place to kick off your Everest Base Camp trek. The only way to get to Lukla and start your Everest Base Camp trek is by going on a flight to Lukla Airport or in a bus or a rented vehicle to Jiri or Salleri, trekking from there. Reaching there could be more arduous than you think, but what really makes Lukla Airport so dangerous? Lukla Airport, also known as Tenzing Hillary Airport, is considered one of the most dangerous airports in the world, mainly because of its short, sloping runway and fast-changing mountain weather.
Tens of thousands of trekkers fly in and out every year, and almost every flight is routine. The bigger day-to-day problem is delay, not danger. Lukla is also just the start: the real challenge of the trek is the altitude, which our guide to avoiding altitude sickness on the Everest Base Camp trek covers.
Let's discuss some of the reasons behind Lukla Airport being one of the most dangerous airports.
Perils of Landing and Taking Off at Lukla Airport
Lukla Airport sits at an altitude of 2,845 meters (9,334 feet) from sea level, which is quite breathtaking. Whether it's land topography or dynamic weather, there are always some reasons behind the possible danger. Here are some of the factors to discuss:
Dynamic Weather
Lukla Airport features dynamic weather that can turn the day from sunny to cloudy and rainy to snowy within a short time. Similarly, the dawn and dusk of the area are always moist, which is a primary issue for air pilots to take flight.
Altitude matters too. Thinner air means a plane lands at a higher true speed and its engines and wings produce less lift, which leaves less margin on a short runway. That's why Lukla flights run in the morning, when the air is calm and visibility is best. By late morning, cloud and wind often build in the valley and flights stop for the day.
High Altitude
Lukla Airport is one of the highest airports in the world, located at 2,845 m. The airport is surrounded by steep hills causing problems for the pilot in properly landing the plane.
Being at a high altitude, weather issues, low air pressure, and density are common at Lukla Airport.
Short Runways
Lukla has one of the shortest runways of any commercial airport in the world: just 527 metres (1,729 feet) long, with a gradient of nearly 12%, a mountain wall at one end and a sheer drop into the valley at the other. Generally, most international airports have long runways extending up to 10,000 feet. Lukla only has a 1,729-foot runway, which is really scary.
The slope helps. Landing uphill slows the plane quickly, and taking off downhill helps it gain speed before the runway ends at the cliff. There's no option to go around once a plane is committed to landing, which is why only specially trained pilots fly here.
Accidents At Lukla Airport
Lukla's accident record runs from 1973 to 2019. Several crashes caused no deaths, and two of the deadliest happened on Lukla-bound flights far from the airport.
Back in 1973, a crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Lukla caused despair. The Airplane under Royal Nepal Airlines went down due to unknown circumstances when taking off from the airport.
All six passengers from the flight were left uninjured, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
The next mishap came on June 9, 1991, when De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Lukla crashed due to unhealthy weather conditions. The pilot went around to follow the holding pattern due to bad weather. Later, when he tried to land, it struck the runway and bounced which caused all 17 passengers to be injured. The plane was never to be repaired since it fully deteriorated.
The following year on September 26, 1992, Harbin Yunsunji Y-12-II in Lukla crashed with no passengers injured. Similarly, the crash of Yeti Airlines' De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter on May 25, 2004, killed all three crew members on board the cargo flight. The plane hit the mountainside near Lamjura Pass due to poor visibility at an altitude of 11,600 feet.
The crash of Dornier DO228-201 in Lukla on June 30, 2005, left 12 passengers with injuries. Three years later, De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter crashed below the runway after it struck a rock and burst into flames. The mishap cost 18 lives: 12 Germans, 2 Australians, and 4 Nepalese citizens died, with the captain the sole survivor.
On August 25, 2010, an Agni Air Dornier 228 bound for Lukla turned back in bad weather and crashed in Makwanpur district, south of Kathmandu, killing 14. On September 28, 2012, a Sita Air Dornier 228 heading for Lukla crashed just after take-off in Kathmandu, killing all 19 on board.
The most recent accidents at Lukla were a Goma Air (now Summit Air) Let L-410 cargo flight that crashed short of the runway on May 27, 2017, killing both pilots, and a Summit Air Let L-410 that veered off the runway on take-off on April 14, 2019, hitting parked helicopters and killing three people. There has been no fatal accident at Lukla since.
Fatal accidents on Lukla flights, 2004 to 2019
The bars show the number of people killed. Only three of these six happened at Lukla airport itself.
| Year | Aircraft | Where | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Yeti Airlines Twin Otter, cargo | Lamjura Pass, en route | 3 |
| 2008 | Yeti Airlines Twin Otter | Lukla, on landing | 18 |
| 2010 | Agni Air Dornier 228 | Makwanpur, after turning back | 14 |
| 2012 | Sita Air Dornier 228 | Kathmandu, after take-off | 19 |
| 2017 | Goma Air Let L-410, cargo | Lukla, short of the runway | 2 |
| 2019 | Summit Air Let L-410 | Lukla, on take-off | 3 |
How to Prepare for Your Lukla Flight
Passengers can't inspect an aircraft, but you can choose how you fly. Book through an agency that uses the established Lukla operators, Tara Air, Sita Air and Summit Air, and that will rebook you quickly if your flight is cancelled. Keep your bags to the 15 kg limit (10 kg checked and 5 kg hand luggage), and take the earliest flight of the day if you can, because it has the best chance of going.
The next important thing to keep in mind is the weather. Since Lukla is located at a high-altitude level, the weather is usually dynamic and frosty. It causes poor visibility for pilots to handle their flights. Pilots and the airport only fly in good visibility, so delays are a sign the system is working. Note that in the busy spring and autumn seasons, most Lukla flights now operate from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap, about four to five hours by road from Kathmandu, to ease congestion at TIA. Read our guide to Lukla flight disruptions before planning tight connections.
Build in at least one spare day in Kathmandu before your international flight home. Lukla flights can be grounded for a day or more, especially in spring and in the monsoon.
Sit on the left side of the plane flying in for the best mountain views, and keep your camera handy. The flight from Manthali takes about 20 minutes, and from Kathmandu about 35.
What Is Being Done by Authorities to Improve Safety at Lukla Airport?
The primary thing to upgrade is the whole team responsible for taking flights and checking the plane's health and infrastructure. Every aspect from plane health to airport quality means a lot since low-quality work can cost dozens of lives in one mishap.
The authorities also have worked in coping with a new technology to align with safe flights at Lukla Airport. Nepal has now been using the latest technologies related to airplanes, case studies of the runways, and infrastructures to avoid any crashes in the future.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal also has set some bars on pilots. Only pilots with 100 short-takeoff-and-landing flights are welcome at Lukla Airport. Similarly, they should have at least one year of such experience in Nepal with the completion of ten flights into Lukla under a certified instructor.
Plans to extend the runway have been discussed for years, but the cliff and the mountain at either end leave little room.
Lukla Airport: FAQs
Is it safe to fly to Lukla?
For most trekkers, yes. Thousands of flights operate every season. Pilots need special training and Lukla experience, and flights are cancelled rather than risked in poor weather. The most recent fatal accident at Lukla airport was in April 2019.
Why are Lukla flights delayed so often?
Lukla has no instrument landing system, so pilots need clear visibility at both ends of the route. Cloud and wind often build by late morning, and a single cloudy morning can delay dozens of flights.
Can I avoid flying to Lukla?
Yes. A jeep reaches Surke, 1 to 2.5 hours' walk below Lukla, in 10 to 14 hours from Kathmandu, or you can walk in from Jiri in about a week. Our guide to the Everest Base Camp trek on a budget compares the options.
How much does a Lukla flight cost?
About USD 180 to 230 each way for foreigners in 2026. Our Everest Base Camp packages include both flights.
