World · South & Central Asia · 55 mins ago
IAF IL-76 lands at record altitude at Nyoma airbase in Ladakh
An Indian Air Force IL-76MD landed at Nyoma airbase in eastern Ladakh at 13,629 feet, setting a record for the aircraft.
The airbase is about 25 kilometres from the Line of Actual Control with China.
Nyoma was operationalised in November last year and can handle fighter jets, helicopters and transport planes.
It is the fourth air force base in Ladakh, alongside bases at Leh, Kargil and Thoise.
The landing strengthens India’s strategic airlift capability, according to the IAF.
The Defence Ministry is also enhancing infrastructure at airfields and advanced landing grounds along the Line of Actual Control.
An Indian Air Force IL-76MD landed at Nyoma airbase in eastern Ladakh, in what the IAF described as the aircraft’s highest-altitude landing anywhere in the world.
The airbase is at 13,629 feet, and the aircraft touched down at an altitude of over 13,600 feet.
Nyoma is around 25 km from the Line of Actual Control with China.
The IAF said the landing reinforced India’s strategic airlift capability.
The airbase was operationalised in November 2025 and can handle fighter jets, helicopters and transport planes.
- Who
- An Indian Air Force IL-76MD and its crew.
- What
- The aircraft landed at Nyoma airbase. The IAF said it was the highest-altitude landing ever achieved by the aircraft.
- When
- November 7, 2026.
- Where
- Nyoma airbase in eastern Ladakh, at an altitude of 13,629 feet.
- Why
- The IAF said the landing reinforced India’s strategic airlift capability.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Nyoma airbase was operationalised.
An Indian Air Force IL-76MD landed at Nyoma.
- Aircraft
- Indian Air Force IL-76MD
- Landing altitude
- Over 13,600 feet
- Nyoma airbase altitude
- 13,629 feet
- Distance from Line of Actual Control
- Around 25 km
- Other aircraft the base can handle
- Fighter jets, helicopters and transport planes
2 sources
What people are saying
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
A remarkable demonstration of the aircraft's enduring capability, backed by the exceptional skill, precision, and professionalism of its crew
Posts on X
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. A remarkable demonstration of the aircraft’s enduring