I know that flying is the safest way to travel, and I’ve done enough of it that I’m pretty desensitized to things like turbulence or frequent news reports of airline disasters, but I still get a little nervous at every takeoff and landing — especially landings.

It’s probably not a good idea to fuel my nerves with videos like these, but you’ve got to admit, these landings are pretty hard core.  Not for the faint of heart, though.

As much as I’d love to visit St. Maarten, I don’t think I ever want to get there by plane!  I also don’t think I want to be on the beach when a 747 comes in for a landing:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAfQwDizpRo[/youtube]

At the same airport, planes taking off blast tourists right off the beach:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6doxd_3k5Y[/youtube]

Here’s a video of ten terrifying crosswind landings.  The one at the 1:54 mark nearly made me pass out (and I wasn’t even on the plane!):

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X_7Xt2ga-s[/youtube]

The Tegucigalpa, Honduras airport is considered to be one of the most dangerous places to land.  Due to the high terrain surrounding the runway, planes must take a very steep approach and turn at the last second to land.  Here are two videos: first a cockpit view, and next a ground view:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAxAso8xSo0&feature=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_z5HtME9n8[/youtube]

Have you ever experienced a frightening landing?  Are there airports you dread flying into?

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