The incredible £10bn project to transform 'world's scariest airport'

Many people are scared of flying, yet it remains the safest mode of transportation. This is despite all the recent incidents.

However, while there is usually nothing to worry about, passengers had every right to be scared when they were flying to Hong Kong back in the day.

This is because Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport was once one of the most notorious airports in the world, known for its terrifying landings and challenging conditions.

In fact, it was even branded the "world's scariest airport" in the media.

It was located in the heart of Hong Kong and operated for over 70 years before closing in 1998.

Pilots landing at Kai Tak had to execute a dramatic low-altitude turn over Kowloon, navigating between densely packed apartment buildings before touching down on a single runway that extended into Victoria Harbour.

The approach, which had to be flown manually, was considered one of the most difficult in aviation history, with pilots needing special training to land safely.

Kai Tak opened in 1925 and became Hong Kong’s main international airport, handling millions of passengers each year.

But by the 1990s, it was struggling to keep up with demand, operating beyond its designed capacity of 24 million passengers per year.

In 1996, the airport handled nearly 30 million passengers and over 1.5 million tonnes of cargo, making it one of the busiest in the world.

With high-rise buildings to the north and mountains towering over 2,000 feet to the east, pilots had no choice but to follow a unique approach known as the "Checkerboard Turn," named after the large orange-and-white marker on a hill that guided them through the final descent.

Passengers often reported seeing people watching television in their apartments as planes passed just a few hundred feet from their windows.

Despite its reputation, Kai Tak was a vital airport for airlines such as Cathay Pacific and Dragonair.

It played a major role in Hong Kong’s economy but also faced increasing safety concerns.

The limited space meant there was no room for expansion, and noise pollution was a constant issue for residents.

A night-time curfew was enforced to minimise disruption, but with the airport so close to residential areas, the pressure to find a new location grew.

The Hong Kong government eventually decided to build a new airport at Chek Lap Kok, a remote island off Lantau.

On July 6, 1998, Kai Tak closed permanently, with the final scheduled departure being a Cathay Pacific flight to London Heathrow.

The last aircraft to leave was a Cathay Pacific Airbus A340, which took off for the new airport at Chek Lap Kok.

After the closure, some of the airport’s buildings were used for offices, car dealerships, and entertainment venues, but most were demolished in the mid-2000s.

Today, the site has been transformed, with a cruise terminal now standing where the runway once stretched into the water.

The Kai Tak Sports Park is under construction and set to become Hong Kong’s largest sports venue when it opens on March 2 this year.

The area also includes new residential developments, but Kai Tak still holds a special place in the hearts of aviation enthusiasts.

And the “Kai Tak Sky Garden,” built along part of the old runway, now allows visitors to walk the path where aircraft once made their scary final descent.

The redevelopment of thee airport has cost a reported £10bn.

However, before the closure, Kai Tak became the site of several aviation incidents, with pilots struggling to manage the difficult landings in poor weather conditions.

In 1965, a United States Marine Corps C-130 Hercules crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 59 people in the deadliest accident at the airport.

In 1977, a Transmeridian Air Cargo plane crashed into the Tathong Channel following an engine fire.

A year later, a China Airlines flight was hijacked by its own flight engineer, though the situation was resolved within a day.

In 1988, a CAAC Airlines Trident aircraft overshot the runway during foggy conditions, landing in the harbour and killing seven people.

One of the most famous incidents happened in 1993 when a China Airlines Boeing 747 attempted to land in a typhoon but was unable to stop in time, skidding into the water at the end of the runway.

The passengers and crew escaped with only minor injuries, but the dramatic images of the plane partially submerged in the harbour remain among the most well-known in aviation history.