The world's 12 scariest, craziest airports

Denver International, USA

Denver International Airport has found itself under intense scrutiny from conspiracy theorists since it opened in 1995.

Philip Schneider, a structural engineer turned whistle-blower who died in mysterious circumstances in 1996, claimed that beneath the airport lies a vast underground facility, which then prompted suggestions that the airport is actually hiding a secret military base or even a concentration camp. And why, ask conspiracy theorists, do the runways form the shape of a swastika?

The airport also fell under the spotlight for its display of four bizarre murals of rather disturbing and apocalyptic scenes which have been exhibited inside the main terminal. Conspiracy theorists speculate they depict the true agenda of the "New World Order".

Meanwhile, a stone plaque above the terminal's entrance features a square and compass (a traditional Masonic symbol) and a dedication to the "New World Airport Commission" (no such organisation exists).

It's an enduring puzzle which has caused it to be voted among the 10 biggest conspiracies in the US.

Courchevel, France

Appropriately, Courchevel Airport's runway actually resembles a ski slope. The 536-metre stretch of tarmac is on the short side, but the 18.5 percent gradient will quickly slow down arriving aircraft. Pilots must obtain a special permit to land here.

There's some shaky, but terrifying, footage of a plane taking off here.

Princess Juliana International, Saint Martin

A planespotter's dream: aircraft land at Princess Juliana International Airport – the second busiest in the Eastern Caribbean – just metres above the heads of sunbathers below. The runway actually underwent an extension a few years ago, making arrivals a little less daunting.

Don Muang International, Thailand

At first glance, this Bangkok airport doesn't look particularly strange, but sandwiched between the two runways is in fact an 18-hole public golf course owned by the Royal Thai Air Force. As far as attractive settings go, it doesn't quite rival St Andrews or Pebble Beach.

Gibraltar

A lack of flat space on the tiny territory of Gibraltar means the peninsula's only runway is bisected by its busiest road, with a pair of flimsy-looking barriers the only thing preventing a nasty collision between a 747 and a Ford Orion.

King Fahd International, Saudi Arabia

Covering about 780 square kilometres of Saudi Arabian desert, King Fahd International is the world's largest airport – 160 square kilometres larger than the whole of neighbouring Bahrain. The airport's mosque accommodates 2,000 worshippers, and there is a separate terminal for the Saudi Royal Family.

Juancho E. Yrausquin, Netherlands Antilles

This runway is certainly not for nervous fliers. At 396 metres long, it's only fit for small aircraft and is considered by pilots to be one of the most challenging to land upon. It is flanked by high hills on one side and sheer drops on the other three.

Kansai International, Japan

To cope with a lack of space, engineers constructed this island airport three miles off the coast of Osaka. Work took some seven years, and the structure is so large it can be seen from space. Was it $20 billion well spent? Perhaps not, as global warming could see the entire thing submerged within decades.

Barra, Scotland

Can't wait to get off the plane and on to the beach? Head for the Hebridean island of Barra where the Scottish sands have been used as a makeshift runway since the Thirties. The airport handles around 1,000 flights each year, but only when the tide is out.

Paro, Bhutan

Surrounded by 5,000 metre-high Himalayan mountains, Paro Airport demands extraordinary skill from pilots. The rarefied air at an elevation level of 2,235 metres only compounds matters.

Tenzing-Hillary, Nepal

Another hellish destination for those of a nervous disposition, Tenzing-Hillary Airport, in eastern Nepal, features an enormous mountain at one end and a sheer drop at the other. The runway is just 460 metres long and 20 metres wide, with a 12 percent gradient. At 2,860m above sea level, there are few airports found at a higher altitude. Care is required - accidents are not unheard of.

Funchal, Madeira

The island's original runway was about 1600 metres long, making it difficult for commercial aircraft to tackle. An ingenious solution was found, however, in the form of a massive girder bridge supported by 180 pillars that were each about 70 metres high. The extension stretched the runway to about 2781 metres.

Take a look at the airports in the photo gallery above.