Goa, Nov. 7 -- The Indian Air Force (IAF) has etched a historic milestone in aviation by executing a successful landing of its IL-76MD heavy-lift transport aircraft at the Nyoma airfield in Ladakh. Situated at an elevation of 13,629 feet, this operation marks the highest-altitude landing ever achieved by an IL-76MD anywhere across the globe. The IAF announced the achievement on social media platform X, sharing visuals of the heavy transport aircraft operating at the high-altitude airstrip.

The successful touchdown serves as a testament to the exceptional operational skills, precise maneuvering, and professionalism of the IAF crew. Taking off and landing heavy transport aircraft at extreme elevations presents severe aerodynamic and mechan...