4. John Wayne Airport – California, USA
Year of construction: 1967
Risk factors: Short runway, noise abatement takeoffs
Landings are notoriously rough at the John Wayne Airport in Orange County. The airport, which is named after the famous Western actor of the same name, has been named one of the scariest airports by travel bloggers.
John Wayne Airport – California, USA ©F Armstrong Photography / Shutterstock.com
One travel website even compared John Wayne’s takeoffs to a “space shuttle liftoff” or a “missile launch.” The runway is short, and there are obstacles on either side, including homes on Newport Beach. Air carriers have to meet stringent noise requirements as they pass over the homes, which is just another obstacle to a smooth takeoff. These noise abatement takeoffs cause the airplane’s nose to drop significantly, giving passengers quite the ride.