{"id":122273,"date":"2023-12-17T07:19:39","date_gmt":"2023-12-17T07:19:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yourclomid.com\/?p=122273"},"modified":"2023-12-17T07:19:39","modified_gmt":"2023-12-17T07:19:39","slug":"i-have-flown-into-worlds-most-dangerous-airport-for-26-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yourclomid.com\/world-news\/i-have-flown-into-worlds-most-dangerous-airport-for-26-years\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I have flown into world’s most dangerous airport for 26 years’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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On November 19, 1977 tragedy struck the tiny island of Madeira after TAP Flight 425 hydroplaned and overshot the tiny runway at Funchal Airport, falling off the end and exploding, killing 131 of the 164 passengers and crew onboard.<\/p>\n

The following year, package holiday prices on the popular tourist island plummeted as a result of the tragedy – and my grandmother seized the opportunity to take her, her father and my mother for a cheap holiday abroad.<\/p>\n

Terrifyingly short runways and very real risk of death be damned.<\/p>\n

And so began a 45-year love affair between my family and this stunningly beautiful Portuguese island in the Atlantic Ocean – one that continues to this day.<\/p>\n

Almost every year since 1978, my family has travelled to Madeira for a holiday to soak up the sunshine, swim in the sea, eat delicious food and gawk at the beautiful scenery.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> The world\u2019s most dangerous road for a road trip is a \u2018deadly highway\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

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I was lucky enough to be taken on my first holiday to the island at just one-year-old, and have been back at least once every year of my life since. However, even after more than 25 years of travelling there, the petrifyingly short runway at Funchal airport – also known as Aeroporto Cristiano Ronaldo – never gets easier to face.<\/p>\n

Back when the tragedy occurred in the 1970s, the runway was just 1,600m long. To put that in perspective, the Northern Runway at Heathrow is 3,902m long – nearly three times the length.<\/p>\n

To add an extra level of peril, the rocky, mountainous nature of the island has meant that the airport and the runway had to be built into the side of a rock face – balancing over the sea.<\/p>\n

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