5. Operation Solomon

Conducted in 1991, Operation Solomon was a covert, multinational rescue that broke multiple world records. At the time, Ethiopian Jews (a.k.a. Beta Israel) were threatened by the ruling regime and a civil war that would follow. Israel collaborated with the U.S. government and Ethiopian rebels to transport 14,325 members of Beta Israel within 36 hours.

netease.com

35 arcraft, including 12 Boeing 747s were stripped of seating and excess weight to fit as many people as possible. Each Boeing was supposed to carry 760 passengers but over 1,000 were allowed on board because all of them were at least 20% lighter then an average person. The operation set a world record for single-flight passenger load, with one 747 carrying 1,122 people. The same plane set another record – five women gave birth during the flight.