An Indian Air Force (IAF) transport plane has achieved a major aviation milestone after successfully landing at an altitude of 13,629 feet in Ladakh, setting a world record for the highest-altitude touchdown by a Russian-origin Ilyushin IL-76MD aircraft. The landing took place at the Nyoma airbase, located around 25 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
"13,629 FEET. A NEW HEIGHT IN AVIATION HISTORY. An Indian Air Force IL-76MD has scripted history with a successful landing at Nyoma, marking the highest-altitude landing ever achieved by the aircraft anywhere in the world," the IAF said in a social media post on Saturday, sharing a video of the unprecedented landing.
It lauded the crew for executing the challenging landing. "A remarkable demonstration of the aircraft's enduring capability, backed by the exceptional skill, precision, and professionalism of its crew," the Air Force stated.
It described the touchdown as a "milestone that reinforces India's strategic airlift capability."
The Nyoma Advanced Landing Ground's elevation and proximity to the LAC make it a vital strategic asset, allowing the IAF to deploy troops, equipment, and supplies to the remote border region swiftly and efficiently.
The airbase became fully operational in November last year.
The 3-kilometre runway in Nyoma was built to enable rapid mobilisation of defence forces and strengthen India's strategic capabilities along the northern frontier.
The project, sanctioned in 2021 with a budget of approximately Rs 214 crore, was designed to support emergency operations and heavy aircraft movement in extreme high-altitude conditions.