Was Hong Kong’s Kai Tak the world’s scariest airport?

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It's actually a miracle we haven't had more accidents at that airport. Probably because of its very difficult approach, only specially trained pilots could fly there.

I remember as a kid whenever visiting family in Hong Kong, in the early 90s, it was such an awesome site flying over the building you can see the people inside. And when in the streets, you can hear the roar getting louder then a giant plane flies overhead. Great memories but of course as a kid, didn't realize how dangerous it can be lol

It takes the world’s greatest and the most talented pilots to execute a landing without killing someone.

I was honored to be on the 2nd last flight to have landed at Kai Tak on the day it closed. The whole airport was in a state of move... packing boxes everywhere. Then after 1am, I could see the boats packing up containers and shipping out from Kai Tak to Chep Lap Kok. I was staying at a hotel near the Convention Centre at the time. It was sad and exciting at the same time.

My brother flew for Air New Zealand as a pilot and he would tell me stories of how he would see people hanging their washing out on the line flying into Kai Tak. He said it was the most exciting airport to fly into and it really made him work for his pay. He passed away in 2008.

That Cathay’s 747 photo was absolutely legendary!

As a business traveler, it was my fortune to experience Kai Tak ten times - twice a year in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997. All travels originated from Seattle: 8 on Northwest Airlines, 2 on United Airlines, and all on 747's. Our first arrival was a hard-stand park. As my colleague and I waited to board the bus to bring us to the terminal, we looked at each other and said, "The Aroma of Tacoma." In retrospect, "The Aroma of Tacoma" is one of many wonderful intangible qualities that make Kai Tak both memorable and special to me.

It wasn't/isn't a myth about being able to see TV's in peoples living room. I flew into Kai Tak in 1991 and was sat on the right side (purposely asked for the seat 😃) of the Boeing 747, I can to this day still recall clearly seeing people hanging out their washing on balconies and even saw a few TV's in living rooms as we banked hard. Glad I got to do it just the once before this legendary airport closed down.

I remember flying on a 747 to Hong Kong in 1997, being on the right side of the plane and seeing in people's kitchens. I'll never forget it. You were literally flying between the buildings after that crazy bank turn to align with the runway.

I flew into HK for the first time in 1995 and I could actually see through the high rise windows, family having dinner like meters away. It was quite an experience that I will never forget.

As a Dragonair pilot we flew into Kai Tak more than any other pilot. It became an everyday event. Four sector days meant both the Captain and F/O got a takeoff and landing every flying day. Other airlines found it tricky as they seldom flew into KaiTak. Even Cathay Pacific, mostly flying long haul, didn't get very many takeoffs and landings every month. It became second nature.
We barely looked at the checker board. Stonecutters Island was the main landmark as a turning point on final approach.

Even with all the problems Kai Tak emitted such as the noise, pollution and crashes, It is still sad to see such a wonderful airport go away.

I experienced taking off from Kai Tak when I was a child, as well as watching planes landing and taking off from high rise condo. Breathtaking.

Fantastic video!! Brings back so many memories.
I was a corporate pilot and flew a corporate BAC 1-11 into Kai Tak three times. It was the most fun as well as the scariest landings I had ever made in all of my career. Now retired.

I remember flying in and out of this airport as a kid, through to my teenage years. This was way back in the 80s to mid 90s. To this day, nothing quite comes close to the airport experience at Kai Tak. Truly a one of a kind place no matter which side of the runway you land or take-off from.

Kai Tak is iconic. Actually it is more impressive from outside the plane when you can observe the movements of the aircraft from upclose as it negotiates the landing process . A hairy experience which is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. Love the runway which goes straight into the sea- one mistake and you'll end up ditching.

Sitting beside the right window and looking out as the plane made its final short turn toward the runway was the most thrilling experience in aviation. My wall is decorated with a poster of a Northwest 747 taking off from Kai Tak. It was truly an iconic airport.

Not just Kai Tak but Hong Kong itself was once a unique place that was one and the only in the world. Sadly the sparkle has gone, it’s now dull and dreary.

I was lucky enough to fly into the same airport in 1976. Sadly I was only 4 years old at the time, so don't really remember much. Later on in life my dad told me stories of how amazing the landings were and how amazing the pilots were to fly into this airport.

I remember landing there in '88 and I distinctly remember saying to my sister...are we going to hit the buildings, are we landing in the water? It was a scary and amazing experience. My parents live in Montebello, where the planes from LAX circle in the air for approach and it is deafening at times. The house would shake so bad. I can't even imagine how loud it is for the people living that close to Kai Tak.

Kai Tak airport surely left a beautiful memories to lots of people

As a kid, we used to go and sit near the Checkerboard up at and watch planes from the huge park that was up near there. On other days we'd venture around the Walled City (which for kids was a scary and intriguing place all at one) and hang around Kowloon City. But the most fun was finding a Kowloon City low-rise residential building with an open-door to the roof. Getting up there with our cold ice lollies and lying on the hot roofs watching the planes fly overheard - we always joked that you could almost touch the wheels!

I was cabin crew between 1974 and 1978 - BA on 747s. I flew into Hong Kong once and found the place to be brilliant and exciting. While other crew members who had been before related how 'hairy' the landing would be I was too busy preparing the cabin to see much. Which is a shame. I liked the idea of seeing into people's apartments as we roared past. At the age of 21 you never think you're going to die.

Flew into Kai Tak several times as a child in the 50s. It was quite spectacular, and an evening landing with all the lights was beautiful.

The power of the airplane is exciting, not the noise. I sat in one of the terminal buildings of Kai Tak and listened to the planes. The building shook every time a plane descended. I loved it. It's amazing human engineering can be this powerful.

My Dad was stationed at RAF Kai Tak. We first lived at Kah Wah Terrace roughly behind the chequer Board before we moved to Prince Edward Road. It really was a magic place where memories still mean everything. Last one was sitting in a Bristol Brittania sitting backwards and the engines revving like mad on take off from Kai Tak. I still say that you can leave Hong Kong/ Kowloon but so pleased Hong Kong has never left me.

Back in 86 when I was in a 747 landing in HK. It was about lunch time and people could be seen having their meals.
You could almost waved at them.

I was fortunate to be a passenger on one of the last commercial flight to land at Kai Tak. I was seated on the right side of the plane and while I don't recall what people were watching on TV, I clearly recall seeing ceiling fans spinning in their apartments. My grandfather, with whom I was traveling, was allowed to experience the landing from the cockpit, which he said was surreal.

I had fon memory of this airport back in 1997 as a flight attendant. My hotel room was just there. U can literally see jumbo jet flying over. I was only 23 back then.😊❤❤❤❤

The fact that the infamous Walled City was right next to the airport always boggles my mind. Heard a lot from first hand accounts of people about how they could see into the complex's interiors and see people living in those apartments all from inside the plane! Always gives me the chills how close the planes flew next to them during their final approach.

I recall landing at kai tak as a kid. Its the only airport where you could see people walking about their apartments at the same level you were as the plane was going in.

ah yes, the airbus radio altimeter callouts at 1:40

Greatest airport in history. At the height of the Golden Age of flying.

1:39 I appreciate how the plane gives verbal feedback on the pilot's performance

Those were the days. I was lucky enough to be able to work there in 30 years ago. Kai Tak is a legendary airport in aviation industry and hongkongers' hearts forever!

I was working as a Flight Steward, in the 80’s, I remember once while on a L1011 Lockheed Tri Star, there was a huge storm with lot of wind and rain and the Captain had to turn around several times around the aircraft was thrown sideways several times I knew through experience that it is going to be a difficult landing for the pilots, especially as there were many high rise buildings and finally when we landed the plane skidded to the left and then to the right and I told myself this may end up badly, but luckily the pilots managed to manœuvre the aircraft skillfully and avoided a probable disaster, Once I was in a supernumerary crew(Passengering crew members) and as the Flight was full I had to sit behind the Captain’s seat, and the Flight was from Singapore to Hong Kong and I had a fine view of the Hong Kong airport through the large windows of the cockpit and it was quite scary landing over the high rise buildings, you could literally see the clothes hanging in the apartment balconies, a little bit of wind shear would easily plunge the aircraft towards the buildings, only experienced pilots were used as it was a high risk airport, one side there were buildings on the other the sea, and if the landing speed is not controlled the aircraft would invariably end up in the sea.

Unforgettable experience during my working years, flying over H.Kong on 747 and just over the buildings with the right turn at the latest moment ..... to cope with the runway.... from 1985 to 1998 4/5 times every year on business trip from Venice via Amsterdam on KLM .....Those were the years.... and then the new airport Chek Lap Kok, but Kai Tak still lies on my heart.....

I used the airport in 1981...what a memory of HK

I remember as a boy taking off and landing at Kai Tak and it was always exciting , I was never frightened with BOAC pilots. I also lived in Kowloon City Police married quarters and when you went to Kowloon City market those planes were literally 50 feet above you and the noise was phenomenal. I used to hang out by the perimeter fence just to watch them take off and land..happy days

I had the honor to experience the approach and landing at Kai Tak from the L1011-500 Tristar cockipt during the late 1990s before it closed down.
Nothing like Kai Tak

The first time I went to HK I wasn't prepared for the excitement of flying into Kai Tak. It was terrifying.
Bravo to all the pilots who got us there.

I will never forget my very first flight to Hong Kong was from San Francisco on a United flight in 1997. At that time, I really never knew about or understood what Kai Tak or the checkerboard was all about and I regret not having done some plane spotting at that time. Over the years that have followed I have traveled to Hong Kong many times (about 2-3 times per year) for Business and am lucky to have the memories of Hong Kong. Not only flying into Hong Kong but being surrounded by the whole atmosphere and history of Hong Kong. Enjoying Cigar Bars, outdoor dinning, shopping, the Prince's building, the Mandarin Oriental, the Peninsula Hotel, and Lan Kwai Fong. I will be going back in a few months and want to hike around the checkerboard again as I understand it's been renovated / re-painted. Cheers Hong Kong.

Hong Kong was such a fascinating and unique place. Flying into Kai Tak was always a thrilling beginning to a fantastic visit to what was one of the world’s greatest cities. I don’t know about TVs, but one could definitely see the details of clothes that people were hanging out to dry on their balconies!

Air New Zealand flight attendant in the day. Wonderful memories of Kai Tak and HKG

I'm glad that I got to experience landing there in 1993 in a Cathay Pacific 747-400. I was sitting on the right side, and while I couldn't see what people were watching on TV, it was shocking how close the wingtip looked to the buildings when it made that tight right hand turn to line up with the runway. The plane hit the ground so hard that overhead bins popped open. Landing at the new airport is very tame.

In the mid 80s I travelled from Tokyo to Oslo and spent a few of days in Hong Kong and Bangkok. Landing at Kai Tak was spectacular, especially when we passed The Walled City.

I had my most memorable air journeys started and ending at Hong Kong airport back in time during 1993 - 2000. One of the most iconic place and era

I landed in Hong Kong for the first time when Chek Lap Kok airport had been running for just two weeks. I was really wishing I had booked that trip earlier so I didn't miss the Kai Tak experience!!! 😢😢

That legendary plane between building photograph will forever become part of HK history.

It was the most heart stopping,breathtaking experience. I looked out of the window of the plane and I see a row of low flats. I could see inside their homes too. THAT was the HK I remember and love.

I remember as a kid, landing at Kai Tai during evening flights from my native Philippines. The lights and the rumbling sound of the plane engines as we approached Hong Kong is a lovely childhood memory of my family vacations there. It was a much simpler time then.

0:53 It's amazing how quick children find their passion/profession.

My husband flew into Kai Tak regularly as a pilot. He’s flown into the new airport there but he says it lacks the charm of Kai Tak.

For those who wondered how loud it was to live under the flight path: I went to a primary school in 92-94 (La Salle) that was within 2km from the airport and directly under the approach... There is a reason why every classroom was equipped with an amplifier system, and even then the teacher had to take pauses. The old school building had no AC, just opened windows in the hot humid climate. It is amazing what we used to put up with!

I’ve taken flights into Kaitak when I was a kid. It was so awesome, especially at night. It felt so low and so close to the buildings. The most exciting landings ever.

Night landing in 1987. Honeymoon in HK and then on to Bali. Seeing the people in their living rooms watching TV and going about their lives. I can say seeing the people was not an urban myth for me! Recreated the trip for our 25th anniversary. Both places had changed as you would no doubt appreciate.

Flew into this airport many times in the 70's always a thrill.

Wow, this brings back some fond memories! I remember flying into Kai Tak in the late 90s, just as a typhoon was brewing. It was an amazing landing...I arrived, got settled into my hotel, then the next day the typhoon signal was hoisted.
Yes, fond memories--but the new airport on Chek Lap Kok is no less than amazing, extremely well-planned. It's the only airport I've ever been to where I regret that my departing flight is on time... 👍🇭🇰

On my first visit to HK I was in a Pan Am 747. I didn't know *anything* about Kai Tak. As we got very close to the runway we made a very steep turn and I honestly thought we were gonna crash. After we leveled off I could see into the windows of apartments and I could even see that one or two had their TVs on.
After clearing customs I was walking to a transit station and was able to get a picture of a bright orange Braniff 747 flying about 100 feet overhead.
Kai Tak Heart Attack? Yup,I survived one!

I have been to Kai Tak many times lots of nostalgia about that place. I like the new airport as well but always Kai Tak was my favourite.

it represent a great time of HK that will never get back, all the nice memories; used to sit a the window watch planes from runway 31, telling my grandpa (who past during the pandemic which I can't return to see him) what plane and airline were landing or taking off... still remember the first time seeing the jet bridge that will move up and down for departure and arrival level...
Remember the night they have to blow off the tail of the China Airlines, sleeping in my room and heard the bang...

Hong Kong's unique way to welcome travellers to this beautiful amazing wonderful city. Runway 13 was so spectacular!

Landing at Kai Tak is something you never forget✈

Pilots used to call it "The Kai Tak Heart Attack."

I can still remember the scene when the aircraft was flying so low I could see a group of people playing mahjong in an apartment. Fantastic flying skill.

I went to Hong Kong 🇭🇰. It is beautiful country. Just little crowded .

I lived in Hong Kong 1983-85. I met a Cathay Pacific pilot and told him pilots must hate the airport and approach. He replied "no, we love it, it's our favourite airport. It's the only time you really get to fly a commercial airplane manually and use your skill as a pilot". BTW, you couldn't see TVs but you could count small laundry items drying on top of the buildings, no problem.

The game Shenmue II is mostly set in Hong Kong in 1987 and when the player is in Kowloon, it is possible for the main character to be startled by a Kai Tak-bound plane flying overhead.

I flew to HK a couple of times in the mid 1990s. First landing was at night, which was pretty spectacular.

In the early 70’s I flew (as a passenger) into and out of Kai Tak airport. It was always exciting. To look out of the port side window you could see the mountain towering above the aircraft.

Brings back fond memories of living in Hong Kong in the late 80s

A beautiful video with lots of love shown towards Kai Tak.
Without knowing it, I landed "my 747" for the last time on rwy 13 on 25 feb 1998
I also miss those old times and that overcrowded,yet well managed chaos.
...and sometimes when there was a lot of crosswind and maybe heavy rain, lots of pilots had that sense of pride that they had managed Kai Tak again.
Probably in the late 80s I saw the news on ATV when they showed an artist's impression of the new airport.
These days taking off from the 07 Rwys towards China one can still see a little of the old runway and remember that beautiful time.

It warms my heart to know that the people of Kai Tak have restored the checkerboard. Greetings from the United States.

1:39 I appreciate the plane giving verbal feedback on my performance

We might not see the TV that people were watching...But I fondly remember seeing people's laundry hanging on the rooftops and all the big neon business signs when landing at Kai Tak when I was a kid. It was cool and scary at the same time, but we trusted the pilots. So grateful that I got to experience. Grateful for all the experienced pilots who maneuvered this airport. 🙏

To tell you how special this airport is, I keep watching similar or repeated documentaries about Kai Tak, despite I flew there and saw the plane landing in Kowloon ! There's something magical/fascinating that was taken from us even if we all agree a new airport was needed

Fantastic video, thank you for sharing!

Still remember the first and only time I landed in Hongkong way back in 1994 when I was only 9.. I remember the tall buildings dotting the landscape as we landed and the planes flying close overhead on the way to Kowloon Panda hotel.. Kai Tak, Ocean Park and the Panda hotel is what stuck to my mind to this day.. I really hope to revisit Hong Kong some day❤

Easily the most fun airport, loved flying in

I flew into Kai Tak quite frequently in the 90's , my wife at that time was a FA for Northwest Airlines , I had a spouse pass ,
Easy enough to ride along with her to Hong Kong . We would chat it up , late at night in the jump seats , and top the evening off
with a wild ride through the " Canyons of Kowloon " , never was it boring

I loved Kai Tak. Sorry to see it go.

I will never forget landing on Kai Tak airport when I was a teenager. it was quite a ride.

I was in the cockpit of a commercial passenger 747-400 for one of our last flights into Kai Tak in the late 1990s. We all knew it was closing. One of our relief pilots was begging the captain to let her make the approach as she knew there would never be another chance to make this iconic landing. He refused. She was heart broken. I do remember looking out the right side of the cockpit window (I wasn't flying) and noticing you could see into the windows of the apartments as we flew past them. Not well enough to see what was on TV. When we got to the mark for the turn you could not see the runway as it was hidden behind a hill. You had to hope you had everything right or when you completed your turn you would find yourself out of position. The F/O called out that we were too high when we finally saw the runway but the captain elected to dive for it and slipped the aircraft in beautifully. It was an excellent landing. Our crews did have to have special training to fly in and out of Kai Tak. It was not your usual approach!

Flew into Kai Tak in the 80s a few times as a kid. I still remember it being the closest thing to flying down the Death Star trench in Star Wars.

Also what was really awesome was being able to be on HK Central 15 minutes after leaving customs.

Kai Tak was a wonderful feature of a very wonderful place

I remember flying into Kong Kong in 1988 as a passenger at night. It was the most terrifying approach to an airport I have ever experienced in any aircraft and it scared the bejeezus out of me. The jet seemed to be dipping and swinging through dangerous mountain passes or avoiding obstacles or something. LIke being on a rollercoaster! Yikes! When I flew back into Hong Kong in 2013, it was a completely different story.

I flew into Kai Tak in the late 80s and had a unique experience. We landed such that the plane was at the end of the peninsula and had to turn around and taxi back to the terminal. The taxiway was close to the edge of the water, and the wing and engine stuck out over the water. The captain gets on the intercom and tells us that this is a first for them. A local junk had run aground on the rocks of the peninsula and if we went down the taxiway the fear was that the force of the engines would blow the junk apart. We had to wait for a break in landing traffic so that we could use the active runway in the opposite direction to get to the terminal. Planes landing after us were already using the opposite side to get to the terminal. Just our luck that we were directed to the side where the junk just crashed. 20-25 minute delay but worth it to be able to say we were delayed due to a ship/ junk on the runway (actually taxiway)!

Thank you for this great look at the memories of a great airport.

Just recalled so much of my fond memories of making a single pilot IGS approach on 13 and reversal for 31 approach in heli. So much fun but equally so much excitement and thrill.

I used to live on College Road in Kowloon City under the flight path. The first landing flight of the day (Singapore Airlines) was my alarm clock. The day passenger flights moved to Check Lap Kok, I over-slept and was awakened by our office receptionist inquiring if I was taking the day off. It was past 10am, late even for HK offices in that day. Kowloon City in the 1990s was a neighborhood in constant change with the eviction and demolition of the Walled City, closing off Kai Tak and blossoming of Thai & Vietnamese enterprises. Thanks for the memories.

I never experienced flying into Kai Tak airport, but I was regaled by an older colleague of his experience of it whilst visiting relatives in HK. The excitement and amazement on his face as he described what he saw during the landing made me want to visit HK just for that experience. Sadly, by the time I made my way to that part of the world, the old airport has seized operation and our plane landed on the new airport.

Still in my memory

I remembered say farewell to my uncle and aunt in Kai Tak Airport when they left HK to USA and Canada around the 60s.

I was lucky enough to have used this airport on my very first time to visit HK in Dec 1995 with my wife during our honeymoon. That was the first time I met her extended family who lived in Laguna City (not far away). Too bad I didn't take photos of those plane landing so close.

Flew into Kai Tak many times in B767 and B747 as captain . The biggest issue was bad weather not the approach which wasn’t that difficult. By far and away most challenging approach was 13L at JFK via the Canarsie approach to what was effectively an 1800m odd runway with difficult weather conditions to deal with .

Very interesting thanks for posting

Thank you very much for this video. I’ve flown in and out of Kai Tak 2 times, 1994 & 1995. First time was quite an experience, as only a couple of days beforehand a Lockheed-L-100-Hercules ended up in the drink on takeoff.
I’d heard about how difficult Kai Tak was to land at, coming in low over the rooftops of the high rise buildings, but to see and experience it myself, is something I will never forget. A couple of days after arriving at Kai Tak, I went up on The Peak, where I could look out over the bay and watch the planes land and takeoff. Having spoken to a few people at The Peak, I discovered they were like me, it was something as a tourist that you had to do. You just had to marvel at the skill of the pilots.

Amazing storytelling, great video. Definitly some breathtaking moments there everyday..