IAF IL-76MD lands at Mudh-Nyoma in eastern Ladakh, at 13,629 feet the aircraft's highest landing anywhere

6 November 2026

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has announced that an IL-76MD transport aircraft landed at the Mudh-Nyoma airbase in eastern Ladakh. The airfield sits at 13,629 feet, making this the highest-altitude landing by the aircraft anywhere in the world. Nyoma lies about 25 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and opened as an airbase a year ago. The IL-76, known in the IAF as 'Gajraj', is a Russian-origin four-engine heavy-lift aircraft that can carry 40-45 tonnes, including tanks. India bought 17 of these aircraft in the 1980s. Lighter aircraft have landed higher before: a C-130J touched down at Daulat Beg Oldie, at 16,614 ft, in 2013. The landing shows that heavy loads can now be flown right up to the border.