Honduras airport falls short on safety

[Judi Lynn]

Honduras airport falls short on safety
New facility planned for Tegucigalpa as existing runway has been scene of six fatal crashes since 1989.
Last Modified: 01 Feb 2012 12:10

The international airport in Honduras' capital, Tegucigalpa, ranks as one of the most dangerous in the world.

The runway in Tegucigalpa is much shorter than average and is located in the middle of valleys that are tricky for pilots to navigate.

Commercial jets are the hardest to land safely, and have accounted for most of the casualties in six fatal crashes since 1989, in which more than 160 people have died.

Now, there are plans to build a new airport alongside a longer and safer runway at a military base outside the capital.

Al Jazeera's Adam Raney reports from Tegucigalpa in Honduras as part of our special series on Transport and Communities.

Video at link:
http://www.aljazeera.com/video/americas/2012/02/201221105512253669.html

[MisterP]

1. no comment

[Judi Lynn]

3. Un-bleeping-believable. I'm in shock. Thank you, so much. n/t

[MisterP]

4. it has a surprisingly good safety record for an airport with a mountain at either end of the runway

Last edited Thu Feb 2, 2012, 04:58 AM - Edit history (1)

and takeoff:

[Bacchus4.0]

2. sounds like they are going to build a new airport next to the base

http://www.hondurasnews.com/tag/soto-cano/

despite the distance.