The Indian Air Force has landed an IL-76MD heavy transport aircraft at Nyoma in Ladakh, a touchdown reported as the highest of its kind anywhere in the world. The Times of India puts the landing altitude at 13,629 feet, and describes the airbase as a key Indian facility along the Line of Actual Control.
Several Indian outlets carried the story on Saturday, 7 November 2026. NDTV called the landing a world record, while The New Indian Express referred to the aircraft as the Gajraj heavy-lifter. Deccan Herald reported the same event, and Guwahati Plus News also covered the record landing.
The IL-76MD is a large transport platform, and operating one at high altitude places demands on airframes, engines and crews alike. According to The Times of India, the landing at Nyoma gives the Indian Air Force a notable capability at a base positioned close to the LAC, the de facto border between India and China.
Nyoma sits in eastern Ladakh, a region where India has been strengthening its military infrastructure. The reports frame the landing as a demonstration of that effort, though the available material does not give further operational details.
Watch for official statements from the Indian Air Force on the landing and for any further reporting on how Nyoma's facilities will be used in future operations.
