The world's most terrifying airport was forced to close: what happened to it

The "Kai Tak" Airport in Hong Kong once made even the most experienced pilots nervous: its single runway was literally squeezed between high-rise buildings, mountains, and the waters of Victoria Harbor.

As BAKU.WS reports with reference to Mirror, it was considered one of the most dangerous landing spots in the world. Over 73 years of operation, millions of passengers held tightly to their armrests while planes passed just meters away from residential buildings - so close that one could see the interior of apartments.

Why landing at "Kai Tak" was so difficult

When performing the famous "Hong Kong turn" pilots had to manually bank the aircraft 47 degrees to the right at literally the last moment, using a huge checkerboard marking on the hillside as a reference point. The maneuver was so difficult that it required mandatory special training: the slightest mistake could lead to tragedy.

Not surprisingly, the airport earned the grim nickname "Kai Tak Heart Attack." Residents of areas under the landing approach path reported having to fall silent due to the deafening noise of engines, and laundry was often blown off balconies by air currents. On stormy days, the tension was felt throughout the city. Nevertheless, "Kai Tak" remained a key hub for major airlines and a vital part of Hong Kong's economy.

Eventually, the authorities decided to build a new airport - Chek Lap Kok on a remote island near Lantau. When "Kai Tak" closed on July 6, 1998, crowds gathered on the waterfront to witness the final takeoff.

What became of "Kai Tak"

Today, the territory of the former "world's most difficult airport" has changed so much that it's hard to believe it's the same place. A modern, gleaming district has grown in its place - part of a large-scale urban waterfront reconstruction program.

The old runway has been transformed into the "Kai Tak" cruise terminal, where huge ocean liners now dock.

And the area where the runway once ended has become a quiet public park with sea views.