Veteran Mountaineers Safely Land at Lukla Airport for Everest Base Camp Trek
A group of veteran mountaineers, who embarked from Sikkim for the Everest Base Camp trek, safely landed at Lukla Airport this morning. The team, which arrived in Ramechhap two days ago, was unable to fly the previous day due to adverse weather conditions. However, with clear skies today, they successfully completed their flight at 8 AM.
Lukla Airport, also known as Tenzing-Hillary Airport, is located in Solukhumbu, Nepal. Renowned as one of the world’s most dangerous yet thrilling airports, it was constructed in 1964 under the leadership of Sir Edmund Hillary. Situated at an elevation of 2,860 meters, the airport features a short 527-meter runway with an 11.7% gradient, making landings and takeoffs highly challenging.
Serving as the gateway to the Everest region, Lukla is a key hub for trekkers and mountaineers. The 30-40 minute flight from Kathmandu to Lukla is often subject to delays due to unpredictable weather. Since the runway was paved in 2001, safety has improved significantly, making it a vital contributor to Nepal’s tourism-driven economy.
The mountaineers have now begun a roughly five-hour trek from Lukla to Phakding, where they will rest for the night before continuing their journey.
