If you’re a fan of the live flight tracker Flightradar24, you might spend a lot of time zooming in on planes overhead to see where they’re going. But have you noticed there’s a red ‘danger zone’ where there’s no air traffic? That’s the Tibetan Plateau, a vast expanse of land known as the ‘Roof of the World.’
This massive plateau, five times the size of France, sits at the crossroads of Central, South, and East Asia. It covers a whopping 970,000 square miles, encompassing most of the Tibet Autonomous Region and parts of China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The Tibetan Plateau is known for its extreme conditions, and it’s no surprise that planes avoid this area. There are three main reasons why the ‘danger zone’ is a no-fly zone.
The first reason is the altitude. The Tibetan Plateau has some of the world’s highest mountains, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth at 8,849 meters. The plateau’s average elevation is a staggering 14,800 feet (4,500 meters). Commercial aircraft typically fly at around 33,000 feet (10,000 meters), but in an emergency, like a cabin depressurization, they would need to descend to 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) – an impossible feat in this region. Besides Everest, there are other towering peaks like Shishapangma (8,027 meters), Gyachung Kang (7,952 meters), and Gurla Mandhata (7,728 meters) that pose significant challenges to aircraft.
The weather is another significant factor. The Tibetan Plateau is notorious for its unpredictable weather patterns. Strong winds, turbulence, and sudden changes in weather conditions are common, making it difficult for pilots to navigate safely. Winters are characterized by harsh frosts and snow, while summers bring monsoon winds that cause heavy rain and plummeting overnight temperatures.
Finally, the lack of adequate emergency runways plays a critical role in the ‘danger zone’ status. Emergency runways are crucial for safe landings in case of engine failure, deteriorating weather conditions, or fuel shortages. However, there are only five airports in the entire Tibetan region: Lhasa Gonngar, Nyingchi Mainling, Shigatse Peace, Qamdo Bangda, and Ngari Gunsa. This limited number of airports makes any flight over the plateau incredibly risky if something goes wrong.
The Tibetan Plateau’s unique challenges have long intrigued people. One Reddit thread saw users sharing their theories about why planes avoid the region. One user, @vinylbond, humorously suggested, ‘Tall mountains cause turbulence. Turbulence causes passengers puke. Airlines don’t want to clean puke. It’s expensive.’ Another user, @pelicanliver, joked, ‘There be dragons,’ while @chicxulub420 simply added, ‘Big mountain.’ The ‘danger zone’ is a testament to the challenges posed by the Tibetan Plateau, where extreme altitude, unpredictable weather, and limited infrastructure combine to make it a no-fly zone for commercial aviation.
