Airports are more than just transit hubs—they’re places where history is made, records are broken, and bizarre incidents unfold. From multimillion-dollar heists to quirky design secrets, the world’s airports have seen it all. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or just fascinated by aviation, these 50 surprising facts will take you behind the scenes of some of the most incredible airport stories ever told. Buckle up and get ready for a turbulence-free journey through the wild, weird, and wonderful world of airports!
1 Stockton Airport’s Name Controversy
In 2017, the airport in Stockton, California, attempted to rename itself “San Francisco-Stockton Regional Airport,” even though it is 83 miles away from San Francisco.
2. In 1979, an underwater landslide near Nice Airport in France triggered a tsunami, resulting in at least 15 deaths. The landslide, likely caused by dredging operations and sediment instability, also damaged airport infrastructure and nearby coastal areas.
3. Airport runway numbers do not follow a sequential pattern; instead, they correspond to compass bearings. For instance, Runway 9 aligns with 90 degrees, while Runway 27 points to 270 degrees.
4. In 2013, a group of eight masked gunmen led by a real estate agent and a luxury car dealer successfully broke into the Brussels Airport in Belgium and stole €38 million worth of diamonds as they were being loaded onto a plane. They executed the heist without firing a single shot or alerting the plane’s passengers.
5. In 2003, Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley ordered the midnight bulldozing of Meigs Field, a small downtown lakefront airport in Chicago. This unexpected action left 16 planes stranded on the ground, including several Fire Department helicopters. As a result, the FAA fined the city $33,000 for failing to provide the required 30-day notice before closing an airport.
6 Mystery of the Stolen 727
In 2003, two men stole and flew a Boeing 727-223 from Luanda International Airport in Angola, even though neither was qualified to pilot the aircraft. To this day, both the plane and the men remain missing.
7. One of the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history occurred in 1979 at O’Hare Airport in Chicago. American Airlines Flight 191, a DC-10 passenger plane, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 273 people on board. In response, the FAA immediately banned all DC-10s from flying in U.S. airspace pending an investigation.
8. Pilots departing from California’s John Wayne Airport must, by law, cut their engines and pitch the nose down shortly after takeoff for about six miles. This maneuver helps reduce noise pollution in the residential area below.
9. In the 1930s, New Jersey housed the only commercial airport serving New York City. To protest this, NYC Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia once refused to deplane in New Jersey because his ticket stated “New York City.” As a result, the airline flew him to NYC.
10. CNN pays airports to air its news on terminal TVs. However, CNN specifically curates this version to omit any stories about plane crashes.
11 Airport Security’s Failed Test
In a security test conducted several years ago, 70 undercover agents attempted to sneak bombs or guns through U.S. airport security-67 of them succeeded.
12. Leaded fuel is still sold at approximately 13,000 airports across the U.S. and is regularly used by an estimated 170,000 small aircraft. Studies by the EPA and FAA have detected its lead residue in surrounding communities, raising environmental and health concerns.
13. As of September 2023, some American airports now permit non-ticketed passengers to pass through security, allowing them to meet loved ones at the gate or visit terminal shops and restaurants.
14. During the 1959 opening ceremony of Ottawa International Airport’s new terminal, a USAF F-104 Starfighter performed a supersonic flypast. The resulting sonic boom shattered nearly all the airport’s glass and caused significant structural damage, delaying the terminal’s opening by a year.
15. A massive “WELCOME TO CLEVELAND” sign on a rooftop along the flight path of Milwaukee’s airport has been causing panic and confusion among arriving passengers since 1978. What was the reasoning behind the creation of this sign? “Living in the world is not a dress rehearsal. You better have fun with it.”
16 Canada’s Operation Yellow Ribbon
Immediately after U.S. airspace closed on 9/11, Canada implemented Operation Yellow Ribbon, diverting 250 U.S.-bound flights carrying 45,000 passengers to 14 smaller airports across the country. Communities like Gander, with a population of just 10,000, generously welcomed up to 6,000 stranded passengers into their homes.
17. The Montréal-Mirabel International Airport, where “The Terminal” movie was filmed, turned out to be a massive failure. Passenger traffic estimates were wildly inflated, highways meant to connect it to Montréal were never built, and the terminal contained asbestos insulation. It stopped receiving passengers in 2004, and the terminal was demolished in 2016.
18. Denver International Airport spans 53 square miles, making it larger than the entire island of Manhattan.
19. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several airlines introduced “flights to nowhere,” where planes took off and landed at the same airport, allowing passengers to enjoy the experience of flying without reaching a destination.
20. In 2013, a Canadian bank robber obsessed with Taylor Swift stole a Cessna 172 from a flight school, crossed into U.S. airspace undetected, and flew to Nashville. His journey ended in tragedy when he crashed at Nashville International Airport, killing himself instantly. Shockingly, the burning wreck went unnoticed for five hours.
15 Most Controversial & Costly Blunders in History
21 Canadian Sky Marshals in U.S.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police deploy undercover sky marshals on every Canadian flight bound for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
22. Sioux City’s airport code is SUX. When officials attempted to change it, the FAA offered GAY as an alternative, which they declined.
23. Only three flights operate weekly to and from Tuvalu in the South Pacific. When the Funafuti Airport airstrip is not in use, it transforms into a public space for sports and social gatherings. A siren blares to alert residents when they need to clear the runway for an approaching flight.
24. In 2021, Lufthansa was losing approximately €500,000 per hour. To maintain its airport slots, the airline admitted in 2022 that it had operated over 18,000 empty flights during the pandemic.
25. In 2007, a passenger left behind a tombstone at Dublin Airport with the inscription, “You will always be remembered, never forgotten.” It eventually ended up in the airport’s lost and found.
RE: Fact #5 (Chicago’s Meigs Field Demolition) –How could helicopters be stranded? It’s not as if they need runways.
RE: Fact #18 (Denver Airport Larger than Manhattan) – And that’s just what we can see. What’s under Raccoon City?
What was the extra cost?
Why’s it so far out of town?
Lol, crazy theories everywhere!
RE: Fact #24 (Lufthansa’s Costly Empty Flights) – So that’s why I’m not worried about using plastic straws or eating meat. Big companies are going to be the end of us.
Lots of things can go wrong.
RE: Fact #41 (TSA Detains Medal of Honor Recipient) – Even if you’ve never heard of the Medal of Honor, it’s obviously a medal.
Seriously, though, the person who actually earned a Medal of Honor? They could probably turn that thing into a weapon.
RE: Fact #29 (Runway Rubber Removal Process) – I’d love to see an airport level in Power Washing Simulator!
RE: Fact #11 (Airport Security’s Failed Test) – A few years ago, I accidentally took a pocketknife onto a plane. Security was distracted – they were busy taking my coworker’s shampoo.
RE: Fact #13 (Non-Ticketed Passengers Allowed In) – Years ago, airport security was pretty lax. My mom wanted to see my son during a layover in her city, and they basically said, “No gate pass, but you can wander around the shops.” Mom just played along and said, “Oh, I’m shopping!”
RE: Fact #34 (Why Some Airport Codes End in X) – Where’s SE?
Sembach, Germany? They call the air base there “SEX”.
RE: Fact #16 (Canada’s Operation Yellow Ribbon) – There’s this awesome musical, Come From Away, about all those planes that ended up in Gander—it’s really great.
There’s a book, *The Day the World Came to Town*, and it’s awesome. Those folks really went above and beyond for total strangers – opening their homes, sharing their money, and showing so much kindness. It fills in some things the musical misses. Definitely worth a read!
RE: Fact #26 (Real Hijacking During Film Shoot) – Did the hostages get paid extra? What about the hijackers?
A few of the hostages ended up in the movie as extras, apparently. The hijackers let everyone go and got arrested.
RE: Fact #41 (TSA Detains Medal of Honor Recipient) – What does the TSA know about honor, anyway?
RE: Fact #34 (Why Some Airport Codes End in X) – Huh, I always figured it meant “Transfer” or “Crossing,” or something like that. Maybe it still does. “Los Angeles” doesn’t have an X, so LAX is probably short for LA Crossing.
RE: Fact #6 (Mystery of the Stolen 727) – They flew off into the sunset—poof! Gone. No, seriously, maybe they got toasted.
RE: Fact #43 (Star of David Found at Iranian Airport) – That shape’s pretty common in Islamic art, actually. It could be the Star of David or the Seal of Solomon – both kings are big deals in the Qur’an.
RE: Fact #3 (Runway Numbers and Compass Bearings) – Finding the right runway in flight sim is way easier now, thanks to you!
Hey fellow flight sim fan, remember to check the wind before landing – it’s always best to land into it. So, if the wind’s coming from 300 degrees at 5 knots, and you’ve got runways 9 and 27, go for 27; that’ll put you right into the wind.
RE: Fact #16 (Canada’s Operation Yellow Ribbon) – Pretty darn Canadian, all things considered.
RE: Fact #31 (Houston Airport’s Clever Solution) – If they keep getting complaints, the complaints office might end up in the basement.
RE: Fact #36 (Denver’s Deadly Blue Mustang) – We call him Bluecifer.
Nobody’s posted a pic of his, uh, private parts on factrepublic yet. Bummer.
RE: Fact #29 (Runway Rubber Removal Process) – Wow, how many tires do the planes go through?
Plane tires usually last between 120 and 400 landings, depending on things like the weather. They have to handle huge temperature swings, from -60°C way up high to scorching heat on the ground in really hot places.
RE: Fact #24 (Lufthansa’s Costly Empty Flights) – Those airports should be held accountable for making this happen. Airlines don’t fly empty planes unless there’s a good reason.
RE: Fact #33 (Nigerian Scammers Sell Fake Airport) – So, this guy got nailed for bribery, kidnapping attempts, and even bomb threats—the works! They took everything he owned to pay the victim, and he got a 25-year sentence. But get this—he was out after a year and got back a whopping $52 million!
RE: Fact #35 (Wright Brothers Airfield Still Active) – Planes and gliders? You can pretty much land those anywhere, as long as you don’t need to take off again.
RE: Fact #14 (Sonic Boom Shatters Airport Glass) – This pilot deserves a beer, maybe even a whole brewery if he wants one, a contractor at the event said.
RE: Fact #45 (Why High-Altitude Runways Are Longer) – So, it needs more speed to get airborne, that’s why it needs a longer runway.
RE: Fact #26 (Real Hijacking During Film Shoot) – I doubt the passengers felt the same way.
RE: Fact #13 (Non-Ticketed Passengers Allowed In) – Remember how great it was to greet family and friends at the airport? A lot of younger people, like almost 40% of Americans, probably don’t.
RE: Fact #23 (Tuvalu Airport Doubles as Playground) – Cool fact: Websites ending in .tv actually rent their domain names from the island nation of Tuvalu—that’s what the “tv” stands for.
RE: Fact #19 (Flights to Nowhere During COVID) – Australia’s state borders were shut, so you couldn’t fly between most cities. But some clever companies started using Boeing 777s for flights to Antarctica to see the Aurora Australis. These were 12-14 hour round trips from a single city, and passengers got amazing views of the southern lights. Brilliant!
RE: Fact #30 (11-Year-Old Sneaks Onto Plane) – Seriously, when I was twelve, I flew solo across the country to visit my grandparents for the summer. My last flight was overbooked, and this really nice flight attendant asked for volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for a free hotel room. I volunteered, and they actually let me!
RE: Fact #3 (Runway Numbers and Compass Bearings) – In *Catch Me If You Can*, when they’re bringing Frank back to the US, he says he knows they’re landing at LaGuardia on Runway 44. There’s no Runway 44 – the highest number is 36. I always wondered if that was a mistake, or if it was meant to show how Frank acted like an expert but was actually full of it.
Funny thing: most of what Frank Abagnale says about his life isn’t true, or is just plain wrong. He was basically a small-time crook who kept making things up after he got out of prison!
RE: Fact #37 (Bangor’s Troop Greeters Tradition) – Getting back from Kuwait/Iraq felt like we landed a million times! Romania for fuel, Germany for a plane change, Ireland for a pint and some downtime. Finally, we touched down in Maine – this tiny place – at 3 AM, and these two older guys were there to greet us. It was crazy, but so awesome to be back in the States.
RE: Fact #13 (Non-Ticketed Passengers Allowed In) – If a family member or friend needs help getting to their gate, like if they use a wheelchair, TSA will let you go with them. I’ve done it tons of times with my mom, she’s getting up there. It was such a relief when I found out – before, just dropping her off at TSA was super stressful.
Kids traveling alone can have a grown-up walk them to their gate, too.
RE: Fact #33 (Nigerian Scammers Sell Fake Airport) – Seriously, how can you spend that much cash without getting someone to check the place out first? People and companies that fall for that deserve what they get.
RE: Fact #41 (TSA Detains Medal of Honor Recipient) – The TSA really plays into the hands of groups like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, scaring people half to death.
RE: Fact #42 (How ‘Mayday’ Became a Distress Call) – I thought it was just panicked screaming.
RE: Fact #40 (9/11 Memorial Flags at Logan) – I recall a similar thing leaving Dulles after 9/11. Our gate was the same one Flight 77 – the one that hit the Pentagon – used. They had someone carry a flag as we pushed back, and the pilots mentioned it was the same gate. I kinda get the idea, but it was unsettling, especially since I’m not a fan of flying.
RE: Fact #30 (11-Year-Old Sneaks Onto Plane) – Back in ’85, two Dublin kids snuck onto a flight to New York just to meet Mr. T.
RE: Fact #9 (NYC Mayor’s Airport Protest) – If he didn’t like it, he could’ve built his own airport.
RE: Fact #20 (Taylor Swift Fan’s Stolen Plane) – This makes me feel pretty good about my life.
RE: Fact #11 (Airport Security’s Failed Test) – TSA’s all about making us *feel* safe, even if it’s not really that safe.
RE: Fact #10 (CNN’s Curated Airport News) – Makes sense.
RE: Fact #43 (Star of David Found at Iranian Airport) – Seriously, how could nobody notice the airport roof for 30 whole years?
RE: Fact #16 (Canada’s Operation Yellow Ribbon) – Thanks, Canada!