It was once considered the most terrifying place to land a plane – where aircraft would navigate between densely-packed buildings and mountains before touching down on a single runway.
Kai Tak, Hong Kong’s former airport until its closure in 1998, was famous for its challenging runway surrounded by skyscrapers, mountains, and Victoria Harbour – forcing pilots to execute a sharp, low-altitude turn to land.
This technically demanding approach, which had to be flown manually, was regarded as one of the most difficult in aviation history – so much so that pilots had to undergo specific training to ensure they could land without any errors.
Planes would be required to descend to a low altitude before making a right-hand turn at about 47 degrees around a large red-and-white checkerboard on a hill.
The aircraft would complete the final leg by lining up with a runway that jutted into Victoria Harbour.
This manoeuvre brought planes very close to residential buildings in the heart of the city – so close that passengers would catch a quick glimpse of people’s kitchens while zooming past.
Aircraft would be at a height of just 1,000 feet when the death-defying ‘Hong Kong Turn’ was made.
For many passengers on planes approaching Runway 13, the feeling of sheer anxiety soon became known as the ‘Kai Tak Heart Attack.’
Kai Tak, Hong Kong ‘s former airport until its closure in 1998, was famous due to its challenging runway surrounded by skyscrapers, mountains, and Victoria Harbour – forcing pilots to execute a sharp, low-altitude turn to land
Planes would be required to descend at a low-altitude before making a right-hand turn at about 47 degrees around a large red-and-white checkerboard on a hill
This maneuver brought planes very close to residential buildings in the heart of the city – so close that passengers would catch a quick glimpse of people’s kitchens while zooming past
And, across 73 years since its opening in 1925, Kai Ta maintained its position as the ‘world’s scariest airport’.
Footage taken while the airport was still active shows planes descending just metres above busy motorways – barely brushing the tops of trees – before landing with rattling force on the runway.
According to The Mirror, residents recalled having to pause conversations as engines soared above their heads, before resuming once the noise had cleared.
Laundry would fly off of people’s balconies as jets swooshed by, causing ceiling fans to rattle indoors.
At one point, a nightly curfew had been put in place to reduce the chaos – but eventually, the Hong Kong authorities opted to build a new airport in 1998.
On 6 July 1998, crowds lined the waterfront to watch the very last take-off before Hong Kong International Airport took over as the city’s main aviation hub that very day.
The former airport site is currently being transformed into a new urban district featuring residential areas, public services, and leisure facilities – but it’s also now home to a $4 billion sports and entertainment complex, Kai Tak Sports Park.
The facility, which officially opened in March 2025, includes a 50,000-seat stadium with an indoor arena, retractable roof, youth sports facilities, a shopping mall, and a public promenade along the former runway.
Past footage taken whilst the airport was still active shows planes descending just metres above busy motorways – barely brushing the tops of trees – before landing with rattling force on the runway
At one point, a nightly curfew had been put in place to reduce the chaos – but eventually, the Hong Kong authorities opted to build a new airport in in 1998
The former airport site is currently being transformed a new urban district featuring residential areas, public services, and leisure facilities
But it’s also now home to a $4 billion sports and entertainment complex, Kai Tak Sports Park
The former runway has been redeveloped into Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, a futuristic, wave-shaped complex designed by the architect responsible for London’s famous Gherkin building
Meanwhile, the former runway has been transformed into Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, a futuristic, wave-shaped complex designed by the architect responsible for London’s famous Gherkin building.
Elsewhere, an airport in New Zealand has been described as one of the world’s scariest places to land a plane – and it’s for a very unusual reason.
As bizarre as it sounds, Gisborne Airport’s main runway actually has a railway line cutting directly across it.
The airport’s air controllers have to coordinate takeoffs and landings with the train’s schedule.
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