Airport type Public Elevation AMSL 4,280 m / 14,042 ft 4,000 13,123 Province Sichuan Opened 18 October 2007 | Operator Sichuan Airport Group 15/33 4,000 Elevation 4,280 m Phone +86 836 282 7811 | |
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Location Kangding, Sichuan, China Address China, Sichuan Sheng, Ganzi Zangzuzizhizhou, Kangding Shi, 城西北斯丁措 | ||
Kangding Airport (Chinese: 康定机场) (IATA: KGT, ICAO: ZUKD) is an airport serving Kangding, the capital of Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in western Sichuan Province, China. It is located 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of the city center. Construction of the airport began in September 2006 and the airport started operation on April 26, 2009.
Situated at 4,280 m (14,042 ft) above sea level, Kangding Airport is the third highest airport in the world behind Daocheng Yading Airport and Qamdo Bamda Airport, and just higher than Ngari Gunsa Airport (elevation 4,274 m (14,022 ft)).
Incidents
Two China Eastern captains had their licences revoked and an assistant captain was suspended from flying after a failed landing at Kangding Airport on 1 May 2016. They were attempting to land an Airbus 319 on a scheduled flight MU5443 from Chengdu to Kangding. An attempt was made to land during bad weather, with the aircraft hitting the ground outside the runway at great speed, almost causing a serious crash. The aircraft suffered damage to its landing gear and tail and returned to Chengdu. The co-pilot was seated in the cabin, with the assistant captain in the cockpit, however two experienced captains are required to be at the controls when landing at this high alitude airport.