1. Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, Colorado
When it was opened in 1946, Aspen-Pitkin County Airport was operated by a private company. This airport is thought to be one of the most dangerous in the United States because it is in a very dangerous area.
According to sources, numerous aircraft crashes, including a fatal 2001 Gulfstream charter jet landing, have occurred at the airport since it first opened. The damages were insane, and the worst part is that 18 people died in the collision. Some people claim that a safe landing for an aircraft is almost impossible in this area.
As many experts say, a pilot needs particular training in order to carefully land in snowy Aspen. Because of its unusual position between 2 mountains, landing and taking off might be difficult for aviators coming from different directions.
However, both the runway and the whole terminal had been renovated, but although the runway’s length was increased to 8,006 feet in 2011, accidents are still likely to occur on it.
…Have you ever been to any of these airports? How did you feel? Leave a comment down below and share your experience with us!
…If you want to read something else that is just as interesting and shocking, check out this article: The US Army’s 5 Disastrous Wartime Decisions!
68 thoughts on “These 5 American Airports Are Extremely Dangerous!”
Add the airport on Santa Catalina Island in California where you land and take-off on a runway that drops precipitously at its abrupt ending. Also, check out the airport in Palomar in Southern California where the runway is gravel and has a big hump in it (at least this was the case in the early 80s).
I was born in Avalon..I totally agree with you!
Was surprised to not see Table’s airport in California, not on list? (In mountains like that Colorado one listed.)
You can ad Telluride, Colorado to this list, and it will be no less difficult and dangerous than Aspen. Aspen airport is located in a wide valley, next to a golf course, whereas Telluride is sandwiched between all sides by 7000 to 8000 ft. Elevation mountains and has a relatively short runway. I would much rather land in Aspen than Telluride.
The runways at LGA are about a little more than 7000ft.
And LGA is so tight and compact
Shame on you and your site. This garbage site is so full of ads it’s impossible to read your article. Worst site I’ve ever been on. You should quite this garbage company that uses sites like this and find a different job. If a company uses trash sites like this it’s representative of the trash leadership they have.
The runways are more than long enough to handle the planes that fly in and out of the airport.
Used to fly into Midway almost weekly. It is so compact that planes almost touch wings when taxiing but the worst part is that it is surrounded by r esidential neighborhood and the planes land and take off directly over building roofs. Very tight.
John Wayne: take offs are not a big deal if you know what to expect. Always takeoff toward the West and over the water, climb fast and then cut power and fall about 1000′ until the plane is past Lido Isle and over the ocean.
I used to take connect flights to Midway; rather than switch at O’Hare Airport. Now, I have this to consider.
The one runway at Block Island, RI is tricky on a busy weekend day. The winds can be unpredictable.
I’d be curious to know, that if you plan to fly to any of the 5 area’s/cities mentioned in this article, what would be the NEXT closest airport, that is NOT considered to be particularly dangerous? Please indicate airports for all 5 if possible and how far, how many miles away from the airports to avoid.
Thank you,
Lin
Charlestown, WV mountain top airport is like landing on an aircraft carrier.
No catch wire, but it might feel safer if there was on.
You said it perfectly. But since I was born and raised there quite a while ago, I had no choice. It made ‘cowboys’ of us all. I watched them construct that airport.
Before then, no way out, no way in.
Today I am in Philadelphia. A perfectly sane airport! Boring. Just what an airport should be.
yes, been there, done that. better to drive I -79 south from Pgh,
Charleston Roy
I agree the airport in Aspen is super scary..add snow and wind and it is downright terrifying . I lived in Colorado, worked in Snowmass and white knuckled it into that airport a number of times…I give Rocky Mountain Air pilots credit for their skills..I actually landed there once, got in my car to drive home and while on the highway witnessed a private jet flying parallel to the highway crash into the mountainside…it was epic..and horrifying
Wow Sitka made the list . I grew up in Southeast Alaska on an island . We traveled by boat or plane . Flew into Sitka a few times and took the “ Alaska Marine Highway “ Glad I was young and didn’t realize the danger .
I lived in Laguna Niguel for a few years used John Wayne airport several times. There were several Near Misses each year that I was there. The alternative airport was LAX which was a nightmare to get to!
Was surprised to not see Table’s airport in California, not on list? (In mountains like that Colorado one listed.)
I’ve flown out of Midway many times. I’ve also flown out of Detroit City Airport. It has to have the shortest runway of them all. It looks as if the plane will hit the buildings. Southwest used to use it several years ago.
I’ve flown into and out of Yeager and been properly scared, especially after we landed at night and, descending into the city in a rental car, I got a look at how close we were to cliffs.
I’d add San Diego, however, as the scariest I’ve experienced. We were on final approach, I was looking at the city, and I was startled by how close we were to some tall buildings. I also happen to know about military and private airfields very close to the airport. The last fatal midair collision we had in the US was at this airport, in 1978, and I was flying into it is 1982 or so,
I’ve also experienced a three-hour hold on all departures at Providence, RI, because it was a hot day and the wind was across the very short runway. We had to wait for some cooling and a headwind to be confident of making it off the ground. Yikes!
Have flown out of John Wayne and Midway. Survived both. Closest we (wife and I) came was a runway incursion at Ontario, CA. Quick go around as we landed. Most passengers never knew it was so close…we were about 100 feet above fence when pilot had to abort landing and make a loop. We were both a bit rattled. Was it a plane or a vehicle? Never knew.
We flew into the Aspen airport once & it was so scary we never went back to Aspen again. We refused to fly or drive there in the winter. I’ve flown in & out of Midway ( multiple times) & John Wayne Airport (2x only) & never felt my safety was compromised. So I found them being on your list very interesting. I have not flown into or out of Midway in over 20+ yrs. Whenever I flew to Chicago for sometime now , it’s been only in & out of O’Hara Airport. I used to live in Chicago & flew into & out of Chicago atleast annually for a long while; but my travel in the last seven yrs to Chicago has become infrequent.
I’ve been to Midway a few times… and I survived. About 20 years ago, there was a plane that slid off a runway, in the snow and hit a car with a fatality.. However, I haven’t heard an accident there since that time.
I’ve flown in and out of Charleston, WV on numerous occasions. Mostly in Canadairs but once in an Airbus. I never thought about it being dangerous but now you have me scared. Makes me want to consider driving to Pittsburgh from now on.
I fly into Yeager Airport in Charleston WV once or twice a year. Every time I smile when I hear business people getting off the plane swearing that they will never fly there again. It’s a good idea to not look out the windows unless you know what’s coming.
Not only is Chicago O’Hare airport dangerous,also theft occurs. When I flew out of there I checked in my luggage and it was taken through. When I received my luggage I had been robbed of jewerly and at least 5 watches. I got a form to fill out, but it didn’t do much for me. I can’t remember the cost of the jewelry and especially that many watches. So I sucked up the loss!!
Have flown into CRW (Charleston WV airport) for over forty years. My dad was in the crew that helped build the airport. They shoved three mountains together to make it. To my knowledge there have only been two serious crashes: one ANG plane flew off the end of the runway in the early 60’s; second one was a Piedmont Airliner that was trying to land in fog (very bad in that area). Hit the side of the mountain and bounced up onto the runway. there were some survivors, but not many.
I traveled weekly for my job. John Wayne airport was a nice airport…newly remodeled terminal! Plenty of nice restaurants and I could fly home direct, no layovers, no connections, very rarely had delays (at least my flights)…but when I say they sling shot the planes out of there! I was use to a plane speeding down the runway for takeoff, but it was like being on a fast launch rollercoaster. I am still up in the air (pun intended) on whether or not I preferred knowing what was about to occur (they inform you prior to takeoff), referring to the slingshot takeoff, throttling down the engines and coasting out over the ocean until reaching minimum safe distance to power up the engines and begin a normal flight to our destination.
I used to fly from Oshkosh, WI into Chicago Midway in 1961 every weekend. Somehow I don’t think this counts!
I guess the guy never flew into the Mexico City Airport
I have been to Sitka and Aspen. I didn’t fly into or out of either. But I am definitely of the opinion that, nervous as I am when I fly, I wouldn’t want to go through either of them.
How about the airport overrun with illegal immigrants??
Quit trying to pad your pockets with advos.
Waste of time to go page after page after page….
I have flown into three of these being Chicago, John Wayne in CA, and Aspen in Colorado. The one in Chicago takes forever to get back to the gate, the taking off is quick at John Wayne but not a big deal and Aspen is no big deal either. I think the word dangerous is a bit over dramatic considering there are international locations extremely far worse.
Where’s the so called bad airports
I used to fly into Chicago Midway every weekend for six months back in 1962 in a DC3 from Oshkosh, WI. I never thought the airport was daangerous then. Something changed! HA HA.
Yes the aspen airport. It wasn’t to bad but it was only late Sept. I grew up in aspen.
When I was skiing on Aspen Buttermilk mountain, I saw a plane BELOW ME coming in for a landing.
Sensationalist nonsense. More internet bullshit
I want to see the 5 airports to stay away from and it won’t open to show me which ones they are……
When I was skiing at Aspen, I was on Buttermilk Mountain and I saw an airplane coming in for a landing BELOW me. Normal I guess, but strange.
WHERE THE F ARE THEY ALL I SEE IS FLUFF & ADS
CLICK BAIT! TV
As a commercial airline pilot, I have been into all but the one in CO. Chicago Midway was a challenge but yet was in there a lot of times with NO problems. I have been retired when I reached the max age in 1994. So today, I just read about all of this stuff.
try San Deigo airport, middle of downtown
Yes, I never liked flying into San Diego. When landing the plane flies low over electrical wires.
you not tell me what airports are not safe
Aspen – not a problem. The airport isn’t the issue. Pilots not knowing how to fly in mountains are. Yes, I’ve flown in and out of Aspen. I have zero safety concerns with commercial flights that use Aspen. I don’t have a pony in this show, but you can take it off or your list.
I’m glad BNA ( Nashvile ) is not on the list. That’s the only airport I have ever flown into other than JAX ( jacksonville ) which is home.
I think that you overstated your case against Midway. It does have short runways and it can be scary to take off and land there the first time or two. It does play host to many non-commercial aircraft and that might affect its statistics but to say there are several fatalities every winter on its icy runways is just an outright lie. There is little support for this statement except for a few well publicized incidents over the last 50 years. Most years, Midway is very busy and relatively safe.
Garbage article,
there are far more dangerous Airports based on approach and operations.
Newark Planes line up on the edge of the departing run way and sprint across between take offs,
any Hawaii airport especially Kauai due to the rapid descent coming in over the ocean..
Never had any problems at Midway.
I like Midway airport much better than O’hare airport. I can get in and out of Midway much faster than O’hare. O’hare has more problems than Midway for domestic flights. I’ve been stuck on O’hares runway for hours and was getting really uncomfortable. I just flew out of Midway last month, got out quickly got back quickly.
Been in and out of John Wayne Airport many times back from when it was simply the Orange County Airport. Once Jets started using the airport the surrounding urban sprawl was complaining about the noise but still the sprawl increased incessantly to where it is surrounded by commercial properties on several sides and neighborhoods on others.
It really is a case where the existing airport has been choked by the complaints of the hoards of human hives that encroached later. Yes the takeoff sucks but really if builders were to make suitable adjustments to sound reduction materials in the domiciles it wouldn’t be so bad.
I lived for a time in Long Beach and Seal Beach and the military fighters launching overhead with afterburners belching were far more disturbing than anything I ever heard around the JW airport and I did for a time live in apartments very close by…
Move into an airport area and complain about the noise? Sorry that is your decision to live there and the whining has resulted in endangerment of people in these neighborhoods and passengers leveraging the connivence of a small hub airport so as to avoid the fustercluck of LAX.
Safety should be first but in this case isn’t…. Glad I don’t live anywhere near that part of the country anymore.
Do you even know where Iaeger, WVa is located?? The one I know is located in what was once (and maybe still is) considered the poorest county in the USA. McDowell County was once the heart of the WVa coal fields. Welch, the county seat and a few miles from Iaeger, was referred to as “the little New York” due to its thriving economy and traffic congestion. If coal mining ever needs to “come back” Iaeger will need that airport and several more. Meanwhile , don’t imply that it’s extremely dangerous ! It’s all those folks have! And do you hear them complaining ?? Tell a story about how the county (and Appalachia) was let down by politicians (on both sides).
John Wayne! In itself it’s not surprising, but the reason for shut down in power during ascent, is the idiots and narcissists who live basically live in Newport Beach!! Those same idiots ban power mowers, power blowers anything that upsets their Sunday or any other day! Those jerks are ones you don’t feel sorry for when the cliffs give way under their homes! Nothing nice to say about any of ’em!
Where is the list of the 5 Dangerous Air Ports?
I have landed at all but Sitka and you have to think and plan ahead. I would also include LGA.
When flying into Apen, the pilot has ONE chance to do it right. If there are any issues, weather, wind, etc. the flight returns to Denver to wait for another day. NEVER AGAIN.
Tahoe is pretty nerve-wracking also. Come in between 2 mountains.
It does not snow a lot in Sitka
Winter Weather in Sitka Alaska, United States
Daily high temperatures are around 41°F, rarely falling below 31°F or exceeding 48°F. The lowest daily average high temperature is 40°F on December 30.
Daily low temperatures are around 34°F, rarely falling below 22°F or exceeding 42°F. The lowest daily average low temperature is 33°F on February 24.
Hey I am not defending John Wayne International Airport just because I live in Southern California–but ranking it at #2 is an abomination and disrespectful to the skills of the pilots that service that area. I disagree with including it in your list because 1.) I don’t see how noise pollution can be a factor in the way pilots take off and land in an airport; 2.) I don’t recall reports of auto accidents hampering the flights of airplanes; this is Southern California. We exist with the interconnection of several freeways to get from point A to point B, etc. This is how we live here and how life is set up–our lives are connected to a vast web of freeways and airports. But to connect auto accidents in relation to the John Wayne Airport’s overall safety rating? That is an overkill. Please research your facts well and cite an incident where an airplane failed to take off and stopped at the edge of the airport’s walls with its nose almost at the curb of the nearest freeway! I know of an airport here but not John Wayne International Airport and I am not going to tell you unless you clarify this ranking! I have used this airport to book a flight to Missouri via Fort Worth Dallas International Airport in October 2020 then a return flight via Denver and landed in the same safely and without any incident. The airport was clean and orderly and passengers were advised nicely by flight attendants that once the airplane starts its approach to take off, to turn off all cell phones or put it to silent to avoid interference with communications. I thought it was a safe flight and given the chance? I will use that airport again in my future business flights. Nothing in what you wrote here prevents me from using what I perceive as a safe airport. Ask any local here. They will disagree with this inclusion. LAX is even more dangerous if you will ask me.
Stapleton in Denver could be white-knuckle time. I am assuming the new airport provides a similar experience in the approach phases. Turbulence. Plane bouncing around like a ping pong ball in that wind off the Rockies.
Have used this airport many times and never had an issue.
What a stupid article full of nothing. From the reading all of these airports have had only one or two fatal accidents out of millions of planes taking of and landing. They are not dangerous, the idiot who wrote this article is a fool.
Been a pilot into two of these, both in the 737-300. Midway is a very challenging airport located smack dab in the middle of the city with short runways. On takeoff we were illegal without a certain amount of headwind, we achieved that and were able to make the takeoff but used up most of the runway and that billboard across the street from the airport was looking pretty big. In my opinion that is one airport that should be shut down. John Wayne wouldn’t be too bad if it wasn’t for the fact that very expensive houses were built in the departure corridor which resulted in numerous complaints from very rich people. Add to that the amount of private airplane traffic flying along the seashore and the FAA agreed to an insane steep climb right after takeoff that literally obscures the forward visibility of the pilots. I personally believe this departure to be dangerous. Unfortunately in both cases because of convenience of location the local public do not want these shut down.