The "trailhead airport" leading to the Mt. Everest area, located in Lukla, is considered by many to be one of the most dangerous places to land -- and take off, for that matter. (Google "Lukla airport dangerous" for articles, pics and videos.)
When I landed there several years ago, the weather was perfect, but doing so was quite an adrenaline rush. If the plane comes in slightly short, you plow into the mountain, and if the plane overshoots, you can't do a "go-around" and you smash into the wall at the end of the runway. Good times ... The runway is tilted at a steep so that the landing planes can stop. The airport is essentially a large, immobile aircraft carrier carved into the side of the Everest foothills.
Whack job that I am (at least I'm honest), I really enjoyed landing there, even though we touched down so hard, I literally broke the seat -- the wood under the padding cracked in half.
I'm amazed that we don't read about more crashes in Lukla. The pilots are simply amazing.
That said, it's ironic that the recent crash in Nepal happened in an area that's nowhere near Lukla. Truth be told, I'd rather die corkscrewing into Nepalese terra-firma than croak in front of the TV. I'm going back in March, so maybe I should be careful of what I wish for.
Finally, about the army troops at the airport: They're there to protect the airport and the folks around it from attacks by Maoist insurgents. Apparently they had a battle there years back. From what I've heard, the insurgents "know where their bread is buttered" and don't bother anyone on the main trail leading to Everest -- and when they hassle trekkers, they're not threatening, but still ask for "donations." They've killed more people by blowing up buses in Kathmandu. Stay off those puppies.
