Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong was once one of the most notorious airports in the world, known for its terrifying landings and challenging conditions before it closed in 1998
Despite the widespread fear of flying, it has long been considered the safest way to travel, even with all the recent scary incidents.
But there was a time when passengers were right to be petrified while en route to Hong Kong.
The infamous Kai Tak Airport, once dubbed the “world’s scariest airport” by the media, presented nightmarish landings and inclement conditions for any aviator brave enough to navigate its airspace. Nestled in the bustling hub of Hong Kong, Kai Tak was active for over seven decades until its closure in 1998.
The perilous approach involved a heart-stopping low-altitude twist above Kowloon, with pilots expertly steering clear of the densely established high-rises before making the descent onto a lone runway jutting straight into Victoria Harbour. This challenging manual maneuver was so grueling that pilots were required to undergo specific training to ensure they could land without incident—a testament to its reputation as one of the toughest landings a pilot could tackle.
Opening its doors back in 1925, Kai Tak ascended to become Hong Kong’s central international port of call, buzzing with activity and ferrying countless travellers annually. But as the latter part of the 20th century dawned, the airport was bursting at the seams, trying to cope with an influx beyond its intended limit of 24 million guests each year.
By 1996, the little airport was working overtime, managing almost 30 million voyagers and ferrying upwards of 1.5 million tonnes of freight, securing its spot among the world’s most hectic airports, reports the Express.
With towering high-rises to the north and mountains soaring over 2,000 feet to the east, pilots were forced to navigate a unique approach known as the “Checkerboard Turn,” named after the distinctive orange-and-white marker on a hill that directed them through the final descent. Passengers often recounted glimpses of locals watching telly in their flats as aircraft skimmed mere hundreds of feet above.
Despite its notorious reputation, Kai Tak was an essential hub for carriers like Cathay Pacific and Dragonair, playing a significant role in Hong Kong’s economic scene but also grappling with escalating safety worries. The airport’s confined space left no room for growth, and noise pollution was a relentless problem for those living nearby.
A night-time curfew was put in place to lessen the disturbance, yet with the airport’s proximity to residential zones, the push for a new site intensified. The Hong Kong authorities ultimately opted to construct a new airport at Chek Lap Kok, situated on a secluded island off Lantau.
On 6 July 1998, Kai Tak shut down for good, with the last scheduled flight being a Cathay Pacific service to London Heathrow. The final plane to depart was a Cathay Pacific Airbus A340, heading to the new Chek Lap Kok airport.
Post-closure, some of Kai Tak’s facilities served as offices, car showrooms, and leisure spots, but most were torn down by the mid-2000s. Today, the area has been revamped, boasting a cruise terminal where the runway once jutted into the sea.
The Kai Tak Sports Park, currently under construction, is poised to become Hong Kong’s premier sports venue when it opens its doors on March 2 this year. The area is also seeing new residential developments, yet Kai Tak remains a beloved spot for aviation buffs.
Now, the “Kai Tak Sky Garden,” which traces part of the former runway, offers visitors a chance to tread where planes once made their nail-biting landings. The airport’s transformation has racked up a hefty bill of around £10bn.
However, before its closure, Kai Tak was notorious for several aviation mishaps, with pilots often battling to land safely in challenging weather. In 1965, the airport witnessed its worst tragedy when a US Marine Corps C-130 Hercules crashed after takeoff, claiming 59 lives.
A Transmeridian Air Cargo aircraft met a fiery end in the Tathong Channel in 1977 following an engine blaze. The next year saw a dramatic episode when a China Airlines flight was commandeered by its own flight engineer, although the crisis was defused within 24 hours.
In 1988, a CAAC Airlines Trident jet missed the runway amidst fog, plunging into the harbour and resulting in seven fatalities. One of the most infamous incidents occurred in 1993 when a China Airlines Boeing 747, caught in a typhoon, failed to halt in time and careered into the water at the runway’s edge.
The passengers and crew managed to escape with only minor injuries, but the dramatic images of the plane partially submerged in the harbour have become some of the most iconic in aviation history.