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Shutdown in 1989 because it was so dangerous, these photos show why Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport was closed.

A glimpse of a Cathay Pacific flight in its final descent into Kai Tak

Opened in 1925 and renowned for its notorious “Hong Kong Turn” and a spate of deadly accidents, the dangerous Kai Tak Airport (also known as the Hong Kong International Airport) was shut down on July 6, 1989. Kai Tak’s runway jutted out into the sea and its descent required a sharp turn between Hong Kong skyscrapers and nearby craggy mountains. Providing the ultimate test for pilot’s skills, accidents were frequent and included planes crashing into the sea and clipping the sides of skyscrapers as they made their approach. Below are a set of pictures that provide ample reasons for its shuttering 15 years ago.

  • A Cathay Pacific aircraft makes its final approach to Kai Tak, 1998.
  • A glimpse of a Cathay Pacific flight in its final descent into Kai Tak
  • Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-367
  • Hong Kong Kai Tak Int'l Airport (Closed)
  • Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport in 1971
  • Kowloon Tsai, Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong - Kai Tak International (HKG / VHHH) (closed), China - Hong Kong
  • A pedestrian’s view of a Kai Tak landing
  • Kowloon Tsai signal hill
  • Kai Tak Airport Site Pano

Image Credits

In-Article Image Credits

A Cathay Pacific aircraft makes its final approach to Kai Tak, 1998. via Atlas Obscura with usage type - Creative Commons License. KAMBUI/ CC BY 2.0
A glimpse of a Cathay Pacific flight in its final descent into Kai Tak via Atlas Obscura with usage type - Public Domain
Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-367 via Wikimedia Commons by VR-HOM@HKG, October 1995/DFC with usage type - Creative Commons License. September 25, 2010
Hong Kong Kai Tak Int'l Airport (Closed) via Wikimedia Commons by Christian Hanuise with usage type - GNU Free. July 6, 1998
Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport in 1971 via Wikimedia Commons by Barbara Ann Spengler with usage type - Creative Commons License. June 24, 1971
Kowloon Tsai, Hong Kong via Wikimedia Commons by Archive.org with usage type - Creative Commons License
Hong Kong - Kai Tak International (HKG / VHHH) (closed), China - Hong Kong via Wikimedia Commons by Konstantin von Wedelstaedt with usage type - GNU Free. July 4, 1998
A pedestrian’s view of a Kai Tak landing via Atlas Obscura with usage type - Public Domain
Kowloon Tsai signal hill via Wikimedia Commons by Tksteven with usage type - Creative Commons License. November 2007
Kai Tak Airport Site Pano via Wikimedia Commons by WiNG with usage type - Creative Commons License. October 2, 2010

Featured Image Credit

A glimpse of a Cathay Pacific flight in its final descent into Kai Tak via Atlas Obscura with usage type - Public Domain

 

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